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Providence, RI - Federal Agents Search Local Home for Nazi-Looted Painting

Published on:   Nov 06, 2009 at 09:21 AM
News Source: AP
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in this family photo, Maria-Luise Bissonnette’s parents, Dr. Karl Wilharm and his wife, Lilli, stand near the painting in question — in the corner. The Providence Journal / Glenn Osmundson PROVIDENCE As Maria-Luise and Conrad Bissonnette shared their weekly lunch in Woonsocket last week, a half-dozen federal agents searched their ninth-floor apartment overlooking the State House. The agents from the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement’s arts and antiquities unit scoured boxes of paperwork, opened safes and rifled through photographs after the manager at the Avalon at Center Place let them into the couple’s apartment on Oct. 27. The reason for the search remained
in this family photo, Maria-Luise Bissonnette’s parents, Dr. Karl Wilharm and his wife, Lilli, stand near the painting in question — in the corner. The Providence Journal / Glenn Osmundson PROVIDENCE As Maria-Luise and Conrad Bissonnette shared their weekly lunch in Woonsocket last week, a half-dozen federal agents searched their ninth-floor apartment overlooking the State House. The agents from the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement’s arts and antiquities unit scoured boxes of paperwork, opened safes and rifled through photographs after the manager at the Avalon at Center Place let them into the couple’s apartment on Oct. 27. The reason for the search remained
Providence, RI - Federal agents are investigating whether a Rhode Island woman broke the law after importing a painting taken from a Jewish art dealer and auctioned by the Nazis.

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Maria-Luise Bissonnette said that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents searched her Providence apartment last week. She said the agents were investigating whether she transferred an illegally imported painting, an allegation she denies.

An ICE spokesman confirmed the search but wouldn't commentfurther.

The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling last year forcing Bissonnette to surrender a painting to the estate of late Jewish art dealer Max Stern. In 1937, Germany's Nazi government forcibly auctioned off Stern's paintings, including one purchased by Bissonnette's stepfather. His stepdaughter inherited it.


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