The Story of Griselda Frescoes
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Jacques Seligmann & Co
setName: label: See more items in
content: Jacques Seligmann & Co. records
label: See more items in
content: Jacques Seligmann & Co. records / Series 1: Correspondence / 1.6: Legal Correspondence Files
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1923-1955
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.jacqself, Subseries 1.6.5
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
arrangement: label: Arrangement note
content: This series has been scanned in entirety.
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents note
content: This section of Subseries 1.6 includes correspondence and legal documents concerning the ownership and ensuing lawsuit over a series of Italian frescoes known as The Story of Griselda. The frescoes were originally acquired by the firm in the mid-1930s from Gabriel Dereppe and Ignatio (Ignace) G. Pollak in a very complicated legal agreement. Because the Italian government refused to let the frescoes leave the country, the firm entrusted their care to Mrs. Nanni Carla Politi and entered into a false sales transaction with her. Although Mrs. Politi did not actually buy the frescoes, documentation existed that made the transaction appear legitimate. Mrs. Politi then sold the frescoes to a Mr. Pelosi of Italy and kept the funds. These files document the complex trail and lawsuits surrounding the frescoes.