Woman in Gold at Temple Emanu-El of Sarasota

CO-COUNSEL FOR “WOMAN IN GOLD” CASE TO SPEAK AT TEMPLE EMANU-EL OF SARASOTA

The Adult Education Committee in cooperation with The Florida Holocaust Museum is excited to present an evening with renowned attorney Don Burris, the senior attorney who successfully argued the Woman in Gold legal case before the U.S. Supreme Court. Burris will give an in-depth look at the historical Woman in Gold art restitution case, argued before the U.S. Supreme Court and an arbitration panel in Vienna, as well as other art restitution cases.  

Don Burris was the senior attorney in the case, later featured in the 2015 film Woman in Gold, starring Helen Mirren.  These proceedings made headlines during the 1980’s when Maria Altman claimed that the Austrian government had stolen six Gustav Klimt paintings from her family when they were forced to flee during the Nazi annexation of Austria. Included in the paintings was the portrait of her aunt, referred to as the “Woman in Gold.” After the war, the Austrian government contended that the six Klimt paintings had been willed to the federal art museum, the Galerie Belvedere, a claim proved to be untrue. In 1999, Altmann began her legal battle to have the painting returned to her family.  Her suit resulted in the 2004 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Altmann V. Republic of Austria.  

For the past fourteen years, Mr. Burris has devoted his career to the pursuit of art works and other assets stolen by the Nazi authorities before and during World War II. On April 7 at The FHM, Mr. Burris will discuss his work as co-counsel on the “Woman in Gold” case in a lecture entitled “Triumph from Tragedy: Restitution of Stolen Cultural Property.” 

This event is open to the community. Bring your own lunch and beverage. No reservations required. 

For further information, please email: dan@barwick.us.