The Signac dossier distinguishes a painting stolen in Nancy and recovered in Ukraine from Germany’s restitution of a painting to the heirs of Gaston Prosper Lévy. The cases illustrate different histories: a reported modern theft and recovery, and a restitution linked to earlier persecution.
2 reports · Source dates: 24 Apr 2019 — 3 Jul 2019
Each entry reflects its source on the stated date. A historical theft report does not mean a work remains missing. Attributions, allegations and decisions remain distinct; this dossier does not authenticate artworks.
An official announcement confirms the handover of Paul Signac’s Quai de Clichy. Temps gris (Opus 156) on 3 July 2019 to a representative of Gaston Prosper Lévy’s family. Provenance research into the Gurlitt collection identified it as Nazi-looted property. This was the sixth restitution from that collection. This painting is distinct from Port de la Rochelle.
Paul Signac’s Port de la Rochelle (1915), stolen from Nancy’s fine arts museum in 2018, was recovered by Ukrainian police during a search in a murder investigation. The 24 April 2019 report describes recovery and arrangements for return to France, rather than a completed return to museum display.
