Jonathan Petropoulos
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Petropoulos is an American
historian
who writes about National Socialism and, in particular, the fate of art looted during World War II
. He is John V. Croul Professor of European History at Claremont McKenna College
in Claremont, California
. Before his 1999 appointment to Claremont McKenna College, Petropoulos taught at Loyola College in Maryland
.
From 1998 to 2000, Petropoulos served as Research Director for the Presidential Advisory Commission on Holocaust Assets, chaired by Edgar Bronfman, Sr.. Since 2000, Petropoulos has served as an expert witness in several legal cases concerning Nazi-looted assets, including Altmann v. Austria (six paintings by Klimt
, including Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I
), Cassirer v. Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum (painting by Pissarro), Kann
v. Wildenstein
(medieval manuscripts), and Rosner et al. v. U.S.A. (the Hungarian Gold Train
case).
Petropoulos was featured in "The Rape of Europa
", a 2006 documentary on Nazi art looting. He is the author of three books: Art as Politics in the Third Reich (1996), The Faustian Bargain (2000), and Royals and the Reich (2006). With John Roth, he is the co-editor of Gray Zones: Ambiguity and Compromise in the Holocaust and Aftermath (2005).
In April 2008, Petropoulos resigned his position as director of Claremont McKenna College's Center for the Study of the Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights amidst controversy over the failed restitution of a Pissarro
painting looted by the Nazis in 1938. The London-based Art Loss Register
employed Petropoulos because of his acquaintance with Bruno Lohse
, a notorious Nazi art looter who died in 2007. The looted Pissarro, "Le Quai Malaquais, Printemps", was discovered by Swiss investigators in May 2007 in a secret safe controlled by Lohse in Zurich, Switzerland. After its seizure by Swiss authorities, the painting was independently restituted to an heir of Gottfried Bermann Fischer
later in 2007 by a Liechtenstein
court, and ultimately auctioned by Christie's
in New York for $1,850,000 ($2,154,000 with premium) on November 3, 2009.
Following an extensive review, a March 2008 Claremont McKenna College statement said the professor "adhered to applicable contractual and legal obligations" in attempting to arrange return of the painting.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
who writes about National Socialism and, in particular, the fate of art looted during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He is John V. Croul Professor of European History at Claremont McKenna College
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont McKenna College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college and a member of the Claremont Colleges located in Claremont, California. The campus is located east of Downtown Los Angeles...
in Claremont, California
Claremont, California
Claremont is a small affluent college town in eastern Los Angeles County, California, United States, about east of downtown Los Angeles at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. The population as of the 2010 census is 34,926. Claremont is known for its seven higher-education institutions, its...
. Before his 1999 appointment to Claremont McKenna College, Petropoulos taught at Loyola College in Maryland
Loyola College in Maryland
Loyola University Maryland is a Roman Catholic, Jesuit private university in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Established as Loyola College in Maryland by John Early and eight other members of the Society of Jesus in 1852, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges...
.
From 1998 to 2000, Petropoulos served as Research Director for the Presidential Advisory Commission on Holocaust Assets, chaired by Edgar Bronfman, Sr.. Since 2000, Petropoulos has served as an expert witness in several legal cases concerning Nazi-looted assets, including Altmann v. Austria (six paintings by Klimt
Gustav Klimt
Gustav Klimt was an Austrian Symbolist painter and one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Secession movement. His major works include paintings, murals, sketches, and other art objects...
, including Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I
Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I
Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I is a painting by Gustav Klimt completed in 1907. According to press reports it was sold for US$135 million to Ronald Lauder for his Neue Galerie in New York City in June 2006, which made it at that time the most expensive painting for about 4 months...
), Cassirer v. Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum (painting by Pissarro), Kann
Alphonse Kann
Alphonse Kann was a prominent French art collector of Jewish heritage. He was a childhood playmate and adult friend of the writer Marcel Proust, who incorporated several of Kann's features into the character Charles Swann .The name Kann, written with double "nn", was said in Paris to be "le plus...
v. Wildenstein
Daniel Wildenstein
Daniel Leopold Wildenstein was a French art dealer and scholar, as well as a leading thoroughbred race horse owner and breeder....
(medieval manuscripts), and Rosner et al. v. U.S.A. (the Hungarian Gold Train
Hungarian Gold Train
The Hungarian Gold Train was the case of a Nazi-operated train during World War II that carried stolen valuables, mostly Hungarian Jewish persons' property, from Hungary towards Berlin in 1945...
case).
Petropoulos was featured in "The Rape of Europa
The Rape of Europa
The Rape of Europa: The Fate of Europe's Treasures in the Third Reich and the Second World War is a book and a subsequent documentary film of somewhat related material. The book, by Lynn H. Nicholas, explores the Nazi plunder of looted art treasures from occupied countries, and the consequences...
", a 2006 documentary on Nazi art looting. He is the author of three books: Art as Politics in the Third Reich (1996), The Faustian Bargain (2000), and Royals and the Reich (2006). With John Roth, he is the co-editor of Gray Zones: Ambiguity and Compromise in the Holocaust and Aftermath (2005).
In April 2008, Petropoulos resigned his position as director of Claremont McKenna College's Center for the Study of the Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights amidst controversy over the failed restitution of a Pissarro
Camille Pissarro
Camille Pissarro was a French Impressionist and Neo-Impressionist painter born on the island of St Thomas . His importance resides in his contributions to both Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, as he was the only artist to exhibit in both forms...
painting looted by the Nazis in 1938. The London-based Art Loss Register
Art Loss Register
Art Loss Register is an evolving, computerized international database which captures information about lost and stolen art, antiques and collectables. The range of functions served by ALR has grown as the number of its listed items increased. The database has become potentially useful for...
employed Petropoulos because of his acquaintance with Bruno Lohse
Bruno Lohse
Bruno Lohse was a German art dealer who, during World War II, became the chief art looter in Paris for Hermann Göring, helping the Nazi leader amass a vast collection of plundered artworks...
, a notorious Nazi art looter who died in 2007. The looted Pissarro, "Le Quai Malaquais, Printemps", was discovered by Swiss investigators in May 2007 in a secret safe controlled by Lohse in Zurich, Switzerland. After its seizure by Swiss authorities, the painting was independently restituted to an heir of Gottfried Bermann Fischer
Gottfried Bermann
Gottfried Bermann, later Gottfried Bermann Fischer was a German publisher. He owned the S. Fischer Verlag....
later in 2007 by a Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...
court, and ultimately auctioned by Christie's
Christie's
Christie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
in New York for $1,850,000 ($2,154,000 with premium) on November 3, 2009.
Following an extensive review, a March 2008 Claremont McKenna College statement said the professor "adhered to applicable contractual and legal obligations" in attempting to arrange return of the painting.