Yale University is trying to protect the painting of Van Gogh

[Евгений]

Yale is trying to protect the painting of Van Gogh by a descendant of Russia Collector
Yale University is seeking a court to protect the rights belonging to him paintings by Vincent Van Gogh's "Night Cafe", reports Associated Press. A claim for protection of the rights to the famous work of art was filed on Tuesday, March 24, in U.S. federal court in Connecticut.

Apply to the court was forced to Yale University after the end of 2008 right now Van Gogh presented Konovaloff Pierre (Pierre Konowaloff) - Russia's great-grandson of the collector Ivan Morozov. Konovaloff believes that the paintings belonged to his ancestor, had been illegally nationalized after the revolution of 1917, and is trying to get financial compensation for them.

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"Night Cafe" van Gogh is owned by Yale University in 1961. The picture was presented as a gift to the institution to graduate Stephen Carlton Clark (Stephen Carlton Clark), who bought the painting in one of New York galleries in 1933-1934.

In a statement filed in court on behalf of Yale University, emphasizes that the nationalization carried out in Russia after 1917, did not violate international law. Rights Clarke at the picture, which he presented as a gift, and can not be questioned, said lawyers representing the interests of the university.

Recall that Pierre Konovaloff tried to claim financial compensation from the organizers of the exhibition of paintings from the collections of major Russian museums, held in London. Among the exhibits are paintings from the collections of Morozov and Shchukin, and there was a danger that their heirs, including Konovaloff, will try to impose on them arrest. The exhibition took place only after the United Kingdom has adopted a special law, which protects against the arrest of Russia's paintings.

[Marina56]

A small addition to this information:
Konovaloff expresses desire to return the painting in Russia.
"Konovaloff implies that the American justice should be put into question the entire reform of the property conducted by the Soviet government in the early XX century, and to declare the illegal sale of paintings," - says the lawsuit Yale. "But then as now is the undisputed fact that sales of the Soviet government took place within the law, as well as the subsequent acquisition of art objects" - the lawyer of the University.
Dar made by Clarke, in his time was widely reported in the press, with the parents of child Morozov did not show himself, says in the lawsuit. Widow Morozov's also not filed any complaints regarding the picture.