The Art Institute of Chicago has appointed Jacques Schuhmacher—previously senior provenance research curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London—as executive director of provenance research.
In his new role, Schuhmacher will supervise the provenance team that was formally established in 2020. “Schuhmacher will lead the museum’s provenance initiatives across the entire collection, including building on the museum’s existing provenance research practice and coordinating this important work among specialists across the museum,” says an institute statement.
Schuhmacher’s research at the V&A led to the return of several objects to their countries of origin, including a golden ewer from 2,000 BC to Turkey. The 4,250-year-old object, which was looted in Anatolia, was returned in 2021.
Schuhmacher says on his website: “When I joined the V&A [in 2018] I first investigated the Nazi-era provenance of the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection. I am passionate about sharing provenance research with wider audiences so it was very rewarding that this research project culminated in the special provenance display Concealed Histories: Uncovering the Story of Nazi Looting [with co-curator Alice Minter].”
He adds: “I also worked closely on the return of the Head of Eros [in 2022], a fragment of a sculpture from the Sidamara Sarcophagus which has been described as the ‘Turkish Elgin Marble’.
“Building on our positive relationship with the Turkish Ministry, we developed the concept of Renewable Cultural Partnerships, which created the research environment that allowed for the reunification of the Head with the Sarcophagus in the Istanbul Archaeology Museum.”
A V&A spokesperson tells The Art Newspaper: “We will be replacing Jacques. This work remains critical to the V&A and the need for dedicated specialist knowledge is clear.”
The role of senior provenance research curator, which has been posted on the museum’s website, is supported by The Polonsky Foundation and is initially a 12-month post. “During this next phase, the postholder will work closely with the collections and staff of the National Art Library and Archives as well as with the V&A’s object collections,” says the job description.
Earlier this year, Schuhmacher’s publication Nazi-Era Provenance of Museum Collections: A Research Guide was released. According to a statement from UCL Press/V&A Co-Publications, the book “equips readers with the knowledge and strategies essential for confronting the shadow of the Nazi past in museum collections”. The publication introduces research methods and resources that can be used to trace the stories behind disputed objects; chapters cover topics such as “persecution and dispossession 1933-45”.
Schuhmacher previously served as a researcher at the Commission for Looted Art in Europe, a non-profit organisation focused on recovering World War II–era property.