Albert Skira (Q117451)

Art Looting Investigation Unit

author

Imported a large number of works of art from France during the German occupation, and upon request, submitted lists to the British and French diplomatic missions in Switzerland to prove that all objects were acquired and imported legitimately. Suspected strongly of having smuggled additional objects into Switzerland through diplomatic channels (possibly South American) and illicit border activity. (English)

Union List of Artist Names ID

publisher

1 reference

500326106

Union List of Artist Names

publication date

5 June 2013

retrieved

9 May 2022

partner in business or sport

Pierre Cailler

start time

1941

end time

1945

1 reference

https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/de/articles/027771/2013-05-16/

0 references

2 references

Raubkunst - Kunstraub : die Schweiz und der Handel mit gestohlenen Kulturgütern zur Zeit des Zweiten Weltkriegs

Guarding the Historical Record from the Nazi-Era Art Litigation Tumbling Toward the Supreme Court

Subject Placed on Allied Expulsion List and Proclaimed List.

point in time

1946

2 references

ALIU Final Report

Art Looting Investigation Unit

author

Seira, Albert. Geneva, 4 place du Molart. Owner of publishing firm ‘Editions d’Art ‘; on British and American Proclaimed Lists. Partner of Pierre Cailler and son-in-law of Lionello Venturi, celebrated Italian anti-Fascist art historian, long resident of France and the United States. Imported a large number of works of art from France during the German occupation (English)

https://www.dfs.ny.gov/consumer/holocaust/history_art_looting_restitution/The%20Allies/OSS%20and%20the%20ALIU/final_report_101_175.pdf

investigated by

Art Looting Investigation Unit

subject named as

Albert Seira

1 reference

ALIU Final Report

The art collection of Peter Watson (1908–1956)

Seira, Albert. Geneva, 4 place du Molart. Owner of publishing firm ‘Editions d’Art ‘; on British and American Proclaimed Lists. Partner of Pierre Cailler and son-in-law of Lionello Venturi, celebrated Italian anti-Fascist art historian, long resident of France and the United States. Imported a large number of works of art from France during the German occupation, and upon request, submitted lists to the British and French diplomatic missions in Switzerland to prove that all objects were acquired and imported legitimately. Suspected strongly of having smuggled additional objects into Switzerland through diplomatic channels (possibly South American) and illicit border activity. Purchased from Renou et Colle, Fabiani, Raphael Gerard, Carre and a group of sixteen less important Parisian dealers. Contact of von Frey. Believed to be playing a double game with earlier strong connections in the French underground. No claims pending against him on the part of the French Government, but appears to be an unsolved case of potential importance. (English)

depicted by

1 reference

https://www.lootedart.com/web_images/pdf2018/Clark-Watson-BAJ-XVI-2-2015.pdf

Beteiligte Privatpersonen und Körperschaften am NS-Kulturgutraub

The picture had then been sold to another friend of Watson, Albert Skira,34 who sold it to a gallery in Zurich and from there the picture had reached the Kunstmuseum.35 Skira only narrowly avoided serious post-War repercussions with the Allied authorities for trading in looted art because Watson withdrew his allegations against him.36 (English)

subject named as

Albert Seira

1 reference

http://www.lostart.de/Content/051_ProvenienzRaubkunst/DE/Beteiligte/S/Seira,%20Albert.html?nn=5150&cms_lv2=95518&cms_lv3=28314

Beteiligte Privatpersonen und Körperschaften am NS-Kulturgutraub

Seira, AlbertGenf; Besitzer des Verlags 'Editions d'Art'; Geschäftspartner von Pierre Cailler und Schwiegersohn von Lionello Venturi; italienischer Kunsthistoriker, lange Zeit in Frankreich und den U.S.A. wohnhaft; exportierte eine große Anzahl von Kunstwerken während der Besatzung aus Frankreich; konnte Listen vorweisen, die belegten, dass die Objekte rechtmäßig erworben und exportiert wurden; illegaler Grenzaktivitäten und dem Schmuggel weiterer Objekte auf diplomatischen Wegen (möglichweise über Südamerika) in die Schweiz verdächtigt; kaufte u.a. bei Renou & Colle, Fabiani, Raphael Gerard, Carre und einer Gruppe von 16 weniger bedeutenden Pariser Händlern; Kontakt zu von Frey; spielte möglichweise eine Doppelrolle, da er in enger Verbindung zum französischen Untergrund stand (German)

described by source

1 reference

https://www.lostart.de/Content/051_ProvenienzRaubkunst/DE/Beteiligte/S/Seira,%20Albert.html?nn=5150&cms_lv2=95518&cms_lv3=28314

has works in the collection

Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen

1 reference