Cornelius Gurlitt

Cornelius Gurlitt was a German art collector known for owning a large collection of artworks discovered in 2012, which included pieces believed to be looted by the Nazis during World War II. His collection, stored in his Munich apartment, sparked international debate over the provenance of the art and issues surrounding Holocaust-era property. Gurlitt’s background was complex; he inherited much of the collection from his father, Hildebrand Gurlitt, who had worked as an art dealer during the Nazi era. The controversy highlighted broader questions about art restitution and the handling of Nazi-looted art.