Research
Learn More about the Collection
To find information about the Taft collection including provenance (the history of a work of art’s ownership), access the Taft Museum of Art library, or request images, please follow the links below.
Questions? Contact curator_collections@taftmuseum.org.
Explore the Collection Online
Discover European and American paintings and sculptures, Chinese porcelains, European watches, French Renaissance enamels, and American furniture—and view provenance—online. The Taft Museum of Art's collection digitization project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Learn more about Nazi-Era Provenance Research here.
Taft Museum of Art Library
Open only by appointment to researchers, the Taft Museum of Art’s library houses books related to its collection, history, and architecture. Books can only be viewed on-site and are not available for circulation.
You can search the Taft library online through the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library catalog here.
Request Images
To request images from the Taft Museum of Art collection for research, publication, or educational use, please complete and submit the online form or email reproductions@taftmuseum.org for more information.
For media inquiries, please contact pr@taftmuseum.org or visit the Press and Media Room.
Nazi-Era Provenance Research
During the years 1933–1945, the Nazis conducted the largest confiscation of cultural property known in history. Although many works of art were returned to their original owners after World War II, many entered the art market and new collections. The guidelines concerning the Unlawful Appropriation of Objects during the Nazi era, issued by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), urge museums to review the provenance (ownership history) of works of art in their collection. By doing so, museums ensure that they do not house works that were looted by the Nazis.
Criteria and Selection
Most of the Taft Museum of Art collection was bequeathed by Charles and Anna Taft in 1931, before the Nazi era. The Taft has conducted a critical review of the provenance of works of art in its collection acquired after 1932 and identified 10 paintings that were either in Europe between 1932 and 1946, or that have gaps in provenance during this time. The inclusion of a painting here does not signify that it was subject to Nazi looting; it merely means that it has a gap in its history of ownership.
By making this information available to the public, the Taft is working to fulfill its mission of responsible stewardship of its collections and participating in the worldwide effort to identify works of art looted during World War II. The Taft Museum of Art will continue to add new information to this site as research on the collection continues.
Questions? Contact curator_collections@taftmuseum.org.
Tips for Understanding Provenance Entries
The provenance is listed in chronological order, beginning with the earliest known owner. Life dates of owners, if known, are enclosed in brackets. Uncertain information is indicated by the terms “possibly” or “probably” and explained in footnotes. Dealers, auction houses, or agents are enclosed in parentheses to distinguish them from private owners. Relationships between owners and methods of transactions are indicated in the text and clarified through punctuation: a semicolon is used to indicate that the work passed directly between two owners (including dealers, auction houses, or agents), and a period is used to separate two owners (including dealers auction houses or agents) if a direct transfer did not occur or is not known to have occurred. Footnotes are used to document or clarify information. (From The AAM Guide to Provenance Research, 2001)