Holy Family with Coats of Arms of Charles V and Isabella of Portugal

Sigmund Röhrer, Munich, Germany

by 1913 - still in 1923
Bernard von Back, Szegedin, Hungary [1]

by 1933 - still in 1940
Jacques Goudstikker (1897-1940), Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and Isaak Rosenbaum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (owned jointly) [2]

by 1942 - 1947
Rosenberg & Stiebel Incorporated, New York, NY, USA, acquired from Goudstikker and Rosenbaum [3]

1947 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from Rosenberg & Stiebel Incorporated [4]


Notes:
[1] A 1913 publication lists the painting as being in the collection of Bernard von Back. It also lists the previous owner as S. Röhrer, but no dates are given [Weisz, Ernst. "Jan Gossaert gen. Mabuse, sein Leben und seine Werke: ein monographischer Versuch und Beitrag zur Geschichte der flämischen Malerei in der ersten Hälfte des XVI Jahrhunderts." Parchim i.M.: Hermann Freise, 1913, p. 122]. The painting was still in von Back's ownership in 1923, according to a publication of that date [Segard, Achille. "Jean Gossart dit Mabuse," Brussels and Paris: G. van Oest & Cie., 1923, cat. 40, p. 182].

[2] The triptych was included in a 1933 exhibition of the Goudstikker collections, which lists the two previous owners as S. Röhrer, Munich and "van Back" ["Catalogus der tentoonstelling 'Het Stilleven' ten bate van de Vereeniging 'Rembrandt' in de zalen van den Kunsthandel J. Goudstikker N.V." Amsterdam: J. Goudstikker, 1933, cat. 121]. It was also included in publications from 1933, 1934, and 1936 as from the collection of J. Goudstikker [Glück, Gustav. "Bildnisse aus dem Hause Habsburg: Kaiserin Isabella." "Wiener Jahrbuch" VII (1933):183, 191; "Catalogus Tentoonstelling van Schilderijen en Teekeningen ban Nederlandsche Italianiseerende Schilders uit de 16de en 17de Eeuw." "Arti et Amicitiae" Amsterdam: Maatschappij, 1934, cat. 24; "Jeroen Bosch: Noord-Nederlandsche Primitieven." Rotterdam: Museum Boymans, 1936, cat. 106]. The painting also appears in a Goudstikker's typed inventory from May 1940 as number 2538, owned half share [copy of inventory page, SLAM document files].

Jacques Goudstikker was a prominent art dealer who fled Holland in May 1940, just prior to the German occupation. He died in a tragic accident en route to England on May 16, 1940. Upon Goudstikker's death, his gallery was taken over by Alois Miedl, a principal agent for Hermann Goering. This painting, however, had already been sent to America at the time of Goudstikker's death, according to a handwritten inventory of the Goudstikker gallery stock [copy of inventory page and letter dated April 18, 2005 from Gemeentearchief, Amsterdam, SLAM document files].

Gerald Stiebel stated in a letter to the Museum, "We have documented that as of November 24, 1942 it was owned in half share by J. Goudstikker N.V., Amsterdam and I. Rosenbaum N.V., Amsterdam/Curacao from whence it came to Rosenberg & Stiebel." Stiebel adds that it is probable that Jacques Goudstikker and Isaak Rosenbaum owned the painting together by 1933, as the two had been doing business together prior to that date [letter from Gerald Stiebel of Stiebel Ltd., dated January 28, 2005, SLAM document files]. Isaak Rosenbaum was the uncle of Saemy Rosenberg and Hans and Eric Stiebel, owners of Rosenberg & Stiebel.

[3] See note [2].

[4] Invoice from Rosenberg & Stiebel dated February 10, 1947 [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control of the City Art Museum, February 6, 1947; Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control of the City Art Museum, March 6, 1947.