In 1964, Robert Owen Lehman Sr., a philanthropist and art collector, purchased a drawing by Egon Schiele, which he later gifted to his son Robert Owen Lehman Jr. The drawing, titled “Portrait of the Artist’s Wife,” painted in 1917, is now the center of a legal battle between the Lehman family and the heirs of two Jewish art collectors, Karl Mayländer and Heinrich Rieger. Both collectors were associates of Schiele in Austria and were killed by the Nazis during World War II. The trial taking place in Rochester, N.Y., will examine the ownership of the drawing, which is estimated to be worth several million dollars.
Testimony during the trial will revolve around the evidence presented by the heirs of both Mayländer and Rieger, each claiming rightful ownership of the Schiele drawing. The foundation created by Robert Owen Lehman Jr., to which the drawing was given in 2016, has disputed the claims made by the heirs, citing a lack of archived records indicating the whereabouts of the drawing between 1930 and 1964. The trial will consider circumstantial evidence, decades-old records, and provenance with significant gaps to determine ownership.
Robert Owen Lehman Jr., who is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, testified in court that he had attempted to resolve the ownership claim with the Mayländer heirs when they first emerged. However, complications arose when the Rieger heirs also claimed ownership of the drawing. Justice Daniel J. Doyle will have to consider the various claims and evidence presented in court to make a decision regarding the rightful ownership of the artwork.
The case is significant due to the prominence of the Lehman family in American commerce and culture, with Robert Owen Lehman Jr. being a great-grandson of Emanuel Lehman, one of the founders of Lehman Brothers. The family’s history and involvement in the art world provide context for the legal battle over the Schiele drawing. The drawing was purchased by Robert Owen Lehman Sr. in 1964 and eventually gifted to his son Robert Owen Lehman Jr., who later donated it to his foundation in 2016 for public awareness of classical music and new artistic works.
The legal dispute over the Schiele drawing has attracted attention due to the involvement of the artist, who was considered controversial by the Nazis but is recognized today as a highly influential artist of his era. The artwork, initially purchased for a small sum, has gained significant value over the years. The conflicting claims by the Mayländer and Rieger heirs have brought the ownership of the Schiele drawing into question, drawing attention from both the art world and the wider community.
Despite the legal battle, Robert Owen Lehman Jr. expressed sympathy for the heirs of Mayländer and Rieger, acknowledging the atrocities their relatives suffered at the hands of the Nazis. While efforts were made to find an equitable solution for all parties involved, the conflicting claims and lack of concrete evidence have escalated the dispute to a courtroom trial. The outcome of the trial will determine the ownership of the valuable Schiele drawing and provide closure for the Mayländer and Rieger heirs seeking justice for their lost family possessions.
