Set in contemporary Paris, this story moves between the present and the past throughout as the author tries to resolve an old family tragedy that has become shrouded in mistruths and secrecy.
Jules Strauss, born in Germany in 1861, became a wealthy banker and art collector. He moved to Paris and took up residence in a substantial apartment in Avenue Foch in the old heart of the city. Jules was the author’s great-grandfather and was living in France during the time of the occupation and the division of the country between the southern Free Zone and the occupied north and west. In June 1940, when the Wehrmacht marched into Paris, Jules refused to leave. Although the family was of Jewish origin, they continued to live openly within the city. In the years leading up to the war, Jules amassed an outstanding collection of art ranging from Monet, Pissarro and Degas to Rubens and Titian. It was a chance remark made by an old acquaintance of the author that set her wondering about her ancestry, the artworks and what had become of them.
The book is part family history and part a search for justice and the return of the artworks to the descendants of Jules Strauss. The author centres her book on a particular canvas by Nicolas de Largillière - Portrait of a Lady as Pomona, the sitter being Madame de Parabère - and a drawing by Tiepolo. The narrative follows Madame de Perignon’s searches through archives, museum records, auction house catalogues and various books and repositories of information about art. The book opens in 2014, and the journey of research and discovery lasts until 2021. It is also most interesting to note that, despite the international agreements made in the early fifties, little progress had been made in the intervening decades. Add to that the reluctance of museums and galleries across Europe and the world to give up their treasured works of art, and you will have some idea of the extent of the work involved for Madame de Perignon and the constant frustrations and obstacles she faced throughout her search.
I found the book a fascinating example of family history research, and the legal wrangling and hoops that had to be jumped through to get restitution of the lost items were monumental. But the narrative presents these difficulties succinctly and without judgement. The story flows as though it were a novel, the various hurdles presented as though they are twists and turns in the plot of a mystery story. This book was originally written in French, and the translation has carefully preserved the Frenchness of the original narrative voice. An enlightening and enjoyable read that I can thoroughly recommend.
As for the artworks? Are they traced and restored to the family? That would be telling, and you should read the book to find out. What I will tell you is that Jules died in 1943 at the age of 81, and the family survived the war.
Thank you for telling us about this book.
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