Pierre Konovaloff, grandson Russian industrialist and collector Ivan Morozov, filed a countersuit against Yale University by requiring it to return the famous canvas by Vincent van Gogh “Night Cafe”

Konovaloff Pierre (Pierre Konowaloff), grandson Russian industrialist and collector Ivan Morozov, filed a countersuit against Yale University by requiring it to return the famous canvas by Vincent van Gogh (Vincent van Gogh) «Night Cafe» and to pay 75 thousand dollars of compensation. American University appealed to the Federal Court to confirm the ownership of the picture, two months back .

In 1908, Ivan Morozov acquired «Night Cafe» for its assembly, where the canvas safely stored until 1918 until it was nationalized the Soviet Government. From these facts, both litigants agree, however, continue to start controversy. Representatives of Yale University, argue that nationalization was legitimate. Because subsequent sale of the painting in New York Knoedler Gallery, where she bought the collector Stephen Carlton Clark (Stephen Carlton Clark), then bequeathed it a university, is also legal.

Pierre Konovaloff holds the opposite opinion. His lawsuit states that «Night Cafe» a «cultural value» and seizure without compensation, which Morozov has not received, should be classified as theft. Therefore, only he, as the sole heir Morozov, is the rightful owner.

In its defense, the representatives of Yale University, led a law suit. According to them, since «Night Cafe» in 1961, his pictures have appeared in many publications. And everywhere they accompanied the information that the painting belongs to the university. Konovaloffa therefore, the assurances that he had until 2008 he did not know who is the owner of this masterpiece of Van Gogh, they believe to be unfounded. At Yale confident that Konovaloff or other members of his family who might be interested in returning the painting, had to declare their rights much earlier.

As a counterargument Konovaloff said that even when you purchase the painting at the university were to look into its origins. It was necessary to find the heirs of Morozova and verify that they received compensation for the canvas. This confirmed to the legitimacy of ownership of the «Night Cafe». However, according to Konovaloffa, and nothing has been done.

material produced Catherine Onuchin, AI

Sources: yaledailynews.com , artinvestment.ru