Joshua Kosman May 3, 2021Updated: May 3, 2021, 7:48 pm
Visitors walk into the de Young Museum on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, in San Francisco, Calif. Photo: Santiago Mejia, The Chronicle
The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco is undertaking a new examination of the history of a dozen artworks in its collection, following a recent inquiry by a Northern California publication that raised questions about whether some of the institution’s holdings may have ties to Nazi-era art looting.
The works, which date from the 15th to the 19th centuries, have gaps in their provenance (a detailed history of ownership) that can sometimes be a sign of theft. There is no evidence that these works were stolen, FAMSF spokeswoman Miriam Newcomer told The Chronicle on Monday.