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Peggy Guggenheim's family revive feud by suing foundation over art collection Peggy Guggenheim's family revive feud by suing foundation over art collection
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It is the most visited modern art museum in Italy, a sumptuous palace located on the Grand Canal in Venice.It is the most visited modern art museum in Italy, a sumptuous palace located on the Grand Canal in Venice.
But on Wednesday, the Peggy Guggenheim art collection will be the subject of a bitter court case in Paris pitting the mighty Guggenheim Foundation against two of the American art lover's grandchildren. It is another stage of a long-running family feud whose first round concluded in 1994 with the grandchildren's complaint being thrown out by a judge at the same Paris tribunal.But on Wednesday, the Peggy Guggenheim art collection will be the subject of a bitter court case in Paris pitting the mighty Guggenheim Foundation against two of the American art lover's grandchildren. It is another stage of a long-running family feud whose first round concluded in 1994 with the grandchildren's complaint being thrown out by a judge at the same Paris tribunal.
Sandro Rumney, who was born in Venice, and his half-brother Nicolas Hélion are going back to court with five of their children in an attempt to prove that their grandmother's heritage has been traduced. They accuse the Guggenheim Foundation in New York of ignoring Peggy Guggenheim's wishes that her collection remain intact and that other works should be displayed in another building on a temporary basis only. They are furious that of the 181 works on permanent display at the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, 75 were bequested by the collectors Hannelore and Rudolph Schulhof. Sandro Rumney, who was born in Venice, and his half-brother Nicolas Hélion are going back to court with five of their children in an attempt to prove that their grandmother's heritage has been traduced. They accuse the Guggenheim Foundation in New York of ignoring Peggy Guggenheim's wishes that her collection remain intact and that other works should be displayed in another building on a temporary basis only. They are furious that of the 181 works on permanent display at the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, 75 were bequeathed by the collectors Hannelore and Rudolph Schulhof.
Rumney also says he is outraged by an inscription on the museum's Grand Canal facade, which he noticed during the Venice Biennale last year, acknowledging the "Schulhof Collection" next to the words "Peggy Guggenheim Collection".Rumney also says he is outraged by an inscription on the museum's Grand Canal facade, which he noticed during the Venice Biennale last year, acknowledging the "Schulhof Collection" next to the words "Peggy Guggenheim Collection".
"That was the last straw. The Guggenheim is horrible. This has been going on for 10 years now," Rumney told the Guardian. He is now in frail health after a stroke eight years ago."That was the last straw. The Guggenheim is horrible. This has been going on for 10 years now," Rumney told the Guardian. He is now in frail health after a stroke eight years ago.
In addition, Rumney and Hélion, the sons of Peggy Guggenheim's only daughter, Pegeen, complain that the museum's garden, in whose wall their grandmother's ashes are interred next to a plaque commemorating her 14 dogs, have been "desecrated" by donor receptions. The garden is now known as the "Nasher Sculpture Garden".In addition, Rumney and Hélion, the sons of Peggy Guggenheim's only daughter, Pegeen, complain that the museum's garden, in whose wall their grandmother's ashes are interred next to a plaque commemorating her 14 dogs, have been "desecrated" by donor receptions. The garden is now known as the "Nasher Sculpture Garden".
Their lawsuit demands that her donation to the foundation be revoked. "The Schulhof Collection should move out. There are now three buildings on the site; the Schulhof works can be put in one of the others," said Rumney's wife, Laurence Tâcu. The five children of Rumney and Hélion are named in their lawsuit, while three other grandchildren and one great-grandchild are supporting the Guggenheim Foundation, which was established in 1937 by Peggy Guggenheim's uncle. One grandchild is employed by the foundation.Their lawsuit demands that her donation to the foundation be revoked. "The Schulhof Collection should move out. There are now three buildings on the site; the Schulhof works can be put in one of the others," said Rumney's wife, Laurence Tâcu. The five children of Rumney and Hélion are named in their lawsuit, while three other grandchildren and one great-grandchild are supporting the Guggenheim Foundation, which was established in 1937 by Peggy Guggenheim's uncle. One grandchild is employed by the foundation.
The museum, the most-visited site in Venice after the Doge's Palace, is home to works by the masters of modern art including Jackson Pollock – whom she discovered – Picasso, Mondrian and Magritte. Rumney says one of his favourites is Eyes in the Heat by Pollock. When his grandmother opened her collection free to visitors three times a week when he was a child, he remembers her sitting at the entrance watching them while he handed out catalogues.The museum, the most-visited site in Venice after the Doge's Palace, is home to works by the masters of modern art including Jackson Pollock – whom she discovered – Picasso, Mondrian and Magritte. Rumney says one of his favourites is Eyes in the Heat by Pollock. When his grandmother opened her collection free to visitors three times a week when he was a child, he remembers her sitting at the entrance watching them while he handed out catalogues.
Peggy Guggenheim, who died in 1979 at the age of 81, led a colourful life as a socialite and married three times, divorcing her last husband Max Ernst in 1946. While in Europe in the pre-war years, she built up her fabulous collection, which she was able to keep safe from the Nazis by fleeing Paris. She bought the 18th-century Venice palazzo in 1949 and made it her home.Peggy Guggenheim, who died in 1979 at the age of 81, led a colourful life as a socialite and married three times, divorcing her last husband Max Ernst in 1946. While in Europe in the pre-war years, she built up her fabulous collection, which she was able to keep safe from the Nazis by fleeing Paris. She bought the 18th-century Venice palazzo in 1949 and made it her home.
The plaintiffs contend that when she bequeathed the collection to the Guggenheim Foundation, it was intended as a kind of visual autobiography. They notably point to a 1969 exchange of letters with her cousin Harry Guggenheim, then president of the foundation, in which he accepted her strict conditions that the collection should be "kept as a whole and at the palazzo", without additions.The plaintiffs contend that when she bequeathed the collection to the Guggenheim Foundation, it was intended as a kind of visual autobiography. They notably point to a 1969 exchange of letters with her cousin Harry Guggenheim, then president of the foundation, in which he accepted her strict conditions that the collection should be "kept as a whole and at the palazzo", without additions.
After the descendants sued the foundation in Paris 12 years ago and lost their case, they reached an agreement in 1996 before an appeal came to court. But Rumney and Hélion say that the 1996 protocol has also been breached and accuse the foundation of "commercial cynicism".After the descendants sued the foundation in Paris 12 years ago and lost their case, they reached an agreement in 1996 before an appeal came to court. But Rumney and Hélion say that the 1996 protocol has also been breached and accuse the foundation of "commercial cynicism".
The Guggenheim Foundation has attacked the "baseless allegations" in the lawsuit. It says that the two grandchildren are "not her heirs and are not mentioned in her will", which left her entire estate to Sindbad Vail, her son from her first marriage.The Guggenheim Foundation has attacked the "baseless allegations" in the lawsuit. It says that the two grandchildren are "not her heirs and are not mentioned in her will", which left her entire estate to Sindbad Vail, her son from her first marriage.
The foundation's statement insists that receptions held in the garden had "consideration" for the quiet spot where Peggy Guggenheim's urn is buried. It adds that the current "frivolous" lawsuit should be rejected as it contains the same allegations put forward in the first case.The foundation's statement insists that receptions held in the garden had "consideration" for the quiet spot where Peggy Guggenheim's urn is buried. It adds that the current "frivolous" lawsuit should be rejected as it contains the same allegations put forward in the first case.
Asked how he feels about his family being at war over his grandmother's legacy for so many years, Rumney, 55, replied: "It's tough for me, you know."Asked how he feels about his family being at war over his grandmother's legacy for so many years, Rumney, 55, replied: "It's tough for me, you know."