Guggenheim Versus Guggenheim: A Legal Battle in French Court for Custody of Philanthropist's Priceless Legacy

Peggy Guggenheim’s descendants have launched another appeal against the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation in French court, reported The New York Times. The grandsons of the philanthropist are seeking control on how to manage Peggy Guggenheim’s priceless legacy, currently displayed in the Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Venice. Her collection includes the works of Picasso, Matisse, Miro, Salvador Dali, Jackson Pollock, Magritte and Cocteau, among others.

This is the third time that the heiress’ descendants have made an appeal. the first was back in 1994. In 2014, the Paris tribunal published a 16-page decision which rejected the descendants’ claims. According to The Guardian, her grandsons and great grandsons want to have the displays of Cubist, Surrealist and Abstract post war art restored to their original state. They also claim that the collection has been diluted by art from other donors.

In 2013, Sandro Rumney, the collector’s grandson and other relatives, found that 75 out of 181 works displayed in the Venetian Palazzo were from the Schulof Collection, and the donor’s name was engraved in large letters next to Guggenheim’s. They argued that when Peggy Guggenheim donated her collection to the Guggenheim Foundation, it was her intention to create a visual autobiography. They also showed a 1969 correspondence with Harry Guggenheim, the former president of the foundation, wherein Peggy stated that the collection should be “kept as a whole and at the palazzo”, devoid of any additions.

For the third run of their legal claim, Guggenheim’s descendants presented new evidence- a ground floor plan of the Palazzo dating back to 1979. The plan included notations on where the artworks were to be placed throughout the location. Olivier Morice, Rumney’s lawyer said that the appeal focused on “respecting the wishes of Peggy Guggenheim to see the collection intact.”

The ruling from the three court judges is expected to be announced by September 23.