SakshiThe Real Mrs. De Florian?
Henri was with his mother when she gave up her soul in 1939. The experts concluded that from his signature that had been found on her death certificate. Henri occupied the apartment with her daughter Solange Beaugiron after the demise of his mother. It is believed that his daughter is Mrs. De Florian. Solange continued to reside in the apartment until World War started. It is popularly believed that the lady was a playwriter who was working with a pseudonym “Solange Beldo.”
A Beautiful Time In Paris
The apartment had another world in it. The house that came into existence in the late 1800s and early 1900s and since then has evaded the touch of humans successfully. Post world war many things had changed. The Paris was moving back towards development. The country managed to equip itself with advanced technologies and peace had been restored. The economy of the country was soaring by leap and bounds. But amid the development, there was his apartment frozen in past, waiting for the light to penetrate it. It was a time capsule for those people who had gone much ahead but still wanted to know about their past.
Auctioning The Masterpiece
There was no doubt that this work of art was the creation of Giovanni Boldini. The painting was put on auction later. The auction began with the price $331,000 but the rate soars much higher after 10 bidders showed their interest in it. At last, the painting got sold at $3.4 million. It is noteworthy that this is the only painting of Boldini that got sold at such a huge amount. Ottavi puts it, “It was a magic moment. One could see that the buyer loved the painting; he paid the price of passion.”
Nazi Looting And Plunder
Finding the painting in such a beautiful shape surprised the experts big time. At the time of war, Nazis were handpicking all the finest work of art only to raze them to ashes. However, this painting that was not only beautiful but a valuable asset remained off their radar all through the time, thanks to Solange who locked the door while heading to the south. You won’t believe the havoc the Third Reich brought to Europe when World War II was at its full swing.
Hitler’s Affinity For The Arts
Adolf Hitler thought of himself to be an artist of the first class. That is why the man got very angry when he was barred from entering the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts. Hitler took it as an insult and so ordered the Nazis to destroy each and every piece of art they lay their eyes on. And also entrusted the fraction to demolish artwork that they think is useless i.e. Modern Art. His order was followed by the establishment of organizations with the aim of protecting the great artworks. The owners even offered to go to a concentration camp in exchange for protection of the artworks from the Nazis.
Stealing All Of Europe’s Art
The Nazis nearly destroyed the world of arts. They plundered about 20% of Europe’s art. Not only that, above 100,000 items never made it back to their original owners. There are no traces of many significant pieces of art. And then there is some artwork that is still unnamed.
In this context, the sad case of Maria Altmann would surely make sense.