The Art of the Paper Trail: Provenance Research in the 21st Century

There have been disputes over the ownership of works of art for centuries, but in recent decades the topic of the restitution (or return) of illicit artifacts has taken on particular urgency in the art world and has appeared in the news more than ever. Regardless of how they made their way into museum collections, the spoils of war, looted antiquities, and art collections sold under threat of Nazi persecution have one thing in common: they are all stolen objects. Some may be in museum collections today. How do we research the history of possession and movement—or the provenance—of our works of art? What constitutes evidence of theft? Through a series of case studies, Victoria Reed, Senior Curator for Provenance, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, discusses the role of provenance research in both museum work and broader restitution efforts. Generously sponsored by the Martin A. Ryerson Lectureship Fund.