Resolution To Boren: Return The Stolen Painting

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – FLOOR VERSION

STATE OF OKLAHOMA

2nd Session of the 54th Legislature (2014)

HOUSE
RESOLUTION 1042 By: Reynolds, Ritze, Wesselhoft and Bennett

AS INTRODUCED

A Resolution directing the University of Oklahoma to return a painting that was
stolen by the Nazis during World War II to the family of Raoul Meyer; and
directing distribution.

WHEREAS, in 1940, after Paris, France, fell under Nazi control, German troops
began looting thousands of artworks from museums, galleries and personal
collections across France; and

WHEREAS, before the invasion, Raoul Meyer, a Jewish businessman living in Paris,
amassed a large collection of French impressionist paintings that were seized
during the Nazi occupation; and

WHEREAS, one of the paintings which was stolen is the 1886 work by French
impressionist artist Camille Pissarro called “Shepherdess Bringing in Sheep”;
and

WHEREAS, after the war, Raoul Meyer, who survived the occupation, spent years
trying to track down the artwork that had been stolen; and

WHEREAS, in 1953, Raoul Meyer sued a Swiss art dealer who had bought the
painting, but a Swiss judge dismissed the suit saying the Meyer complaint was
not timely filed; and

WHEREAS, the painting then made its way to an art gallery in New York and was
purchased in 1956 by Aaron Weitzenhoffer, an oilman who lived in Norman,
Oklahoma, and his wife Clara Weitzenhoffer; and

WHEREAS, when Clara Weitzenhoffer died in 2000, the painting was among 33 pieces
of art left to the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, which is located on the campus
of the University of Oklahoma; and

WHEREAS, according to Max Weitzenhoffer, the son of Aaron and Clara
Weitzenhoffer, his parents never knew about the connection the painting has to
Nazi art thefts which occurred during World War II; and

WHEREAS, Leone Meyer, the daughter of Raoul Meyer, has filed a lawsuit against
the University of Oklahoma and the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art demanding that
the painting be returned to the family; and

WHEREAS, there is no dispute that the painting was stolen by the Nazis and there
is nothing in Clara Weitzenhoffer’s will, according to Max Weitzenhoffer, which
would prevent the University of Oklahoma from returning the painting to the
Meyer family; and

WHEREAS, the facts are clear that the Weitzenhoffers bought the painting in good
faith and are not to blame; and

WHEREAS, even if the University of Oklahoma is not legally required to return
the painting to the Meyer family, the University is under an ethical obligation
to return the painting and any other stolen artwork in its possession.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 2ND
SESSION OF THE 54TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:

THAT the Oklahoma House of Representatives hereby directs the University of
Oklahoma to immediately return the painting called “Shepherdess Bringing in
Sheep” which was stolen by the Nazis from Raoul Meyer during the Nazi occupation
of Paris, France, to Leone Meyer, the daughter of Raoul Meyer and to return the
painting without any cost to Ms. Meyer.

THAT a copy of this resolution be distributed to David Boren, the President of
the University of Oklahoma and to each member of the Board of Regents of the
University of Oklahoma.