ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA — The Allentown Art Museum in Pennsylvania will auction a Renaissance masterpiece, “Portrait of George the Bearded, Duke of Saxony,” attributed to Lucas Cranach the Elder and his workshop, as part of a Holocaust restitution agreement. The oil panel painting, created around 1534, has been part of the museum’s collection for nearly 65 years but will now be sold to resolve a restitution claim from the descendants of a Jewish collector who was compelled to sell it under duress from the Nazis.
Max Weintraub, president and CEO of the Allentown Art Museum, emphasized the ethical significance of the decision. “Engaging with the moral dimensions of the painting’s history, particularly in relation to the Bromberg family, was crucial. This artwork ended up in our collection because Henry Bromberg was forced to flee Nazi persecution. Our commitment to justice and ethical stewardship has driven this decision, and we hope it will inspire other institutions to pursue fair resolutions,” Weintraub stated.
The Bromberg family expressed satisfaction with the museum’s handling of the painting’s provenance. They noted, “We are pleased that another piece from our grandparents’ art collection has been identified. We appreciate the Allentown Art Museum’s thorough and responsible examination of the circumstances under which Henry and Hertha Bromberg had to part with the portrait during the Nazi era.”
The family added a personal touch, saying, “After emigrating to the United States, our grandparents first settled in New Jersey before relocating to Yardley, Pennsylvania, to be closer to their son Edgar and his family. This resolution makes the painting’s fair and just handling by the Allentown Art Museum particularly meaningful to us.”
Related Topics:
Draw a Butterfly Cartoon: A Step-by-Step Guide