http://www.monumentsmen.com/blog/2010/03/17/the-visionary-gift/2265/ World War II Veterans Saved Art Museums Heroes Sat, 12 May 2012 00:53:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 http://www.monumentsmen.com/blog/2010/03/17/the-visionary-gift/2265/comment-page-1/#comment-4879 Godfrey Barker Thu, 05 Apr 2012 03:54:13 +0000 http://www.monumentsmen.com/blog/?p=2265#comment-4879 Mellon's art gift to the United States, though generous, was not disinterested. He made it during his two-year prosecution at the Board of Tax Appeals in Pittsburgh, 1935-37. The Internal Revenue alleged he had failed to pay $3.07m tax in 1931 on five paintings by Raphael, Perugino, Botticelli and Van Eyck, all imported from Russia. Mellon, who three times denied to The New York Times making art purchases from Russia, claimed that the Hermitage paintings at his residence at 1785 Massachusetts Avenue in Washington DC were held in trust for the nation. But the Revenue proved that no trust was formed until two months before his trial. Mellon admitted this, told the judges that he had always intended to donate his art to the nation, called high level witnesses and got off. The Revenue started a new case for $668,000 evasion against him. It noted that the trust had laid not one stone of Mellon's "intended" NGA. Mellon now gave in and wrote a check to erect the building. The NGA is, sadly, not "selfless giving" but a memorial to a dubious reputation. The truth was published by Mellon's private secretary in a deathbed memoir in 1979. The tax records were made available to Harvard in the 1980s. Mellon’s art gift to the United States, though generous, was not disinterested. He made it during his two-year prosecution at the Board of Tax Appeals in Pittsburgh, 1935-37. The Internal Revenue alleged he had failed to pay $3.07m tax in 1931 on five paintings by Raphael, Perugino, Botticelli and Van Eyck, all imported from Russia. Mellon, who three times denied to The New York Times making art purchases from Russia, claimed that the Hermitage paintings at his residence at 1785 Massachusetts Avenue in Washington DC were held in trust for the nation. But the Revenue proved that no trust was formed until two months before his trial. Mellon admitted this, told the judges that he had always intended to donate his art to the nation, called high level witnesses and got off. The Revenue started a new case for $668,000 evasion against him. It noted that the trust had laid not one stone of Mellon’s “intended” NGA. Mellon now gave in and wrote a check to erect the building. The NGA is, sadly, not “selfless giving” but a memorial to a dubious reputation. The truth was published by Mellon’s private secretary in a deathbed memoir in 1979. The tax records were made available to Harvard in the 1980s.

]]> http://www.monumentsmen.com/blog/2010/03/17/the-visionary-gift/2265/comment-page-1/#comment-3938 Jessica Davis Mon, 21 Feb 2011 01:00:44 +0000 http://www.monumentsmen.com/blog/?p=2265#comment-3938 I just caught the end of Rick Steve's radio show yesterday. I was furiously taking notes so that I could look this up on the Internet later. I heard one of the Monument Men speak about how 'we should try to respect one another's cultural and religous beliefs.' I couldn't agree more with what he said. I didn't know anything about this foundation, but I am eager to learn more-(as I would like to be a librarian and this kind of thing really interests me.) I think what Mr. Mellon did was really special and unique, since most people like to put their name on the things they donate. I have been to D.C. several times, but now would like to re-visit the gallery with a new appreciation and more info. This website is very informative-thank you for the opportunity to learn more about this foundation. I just caught the end of Rick Steve’s radio show yesterday. I was furiously taking notes so that I could look this up on the Internet later. I heard one of the Monument Men speak about how ‘we should try to respect one another’s cultural and religous beliefs.’ I couldn’t agree more with what he said. I didn’t know anything about this foundation, but I am eager to learn more-(as I would like to be a librarian and this kind of thing really interests me.) I think what Mr. Mellon did was really special and unique, since most people like to put their name on the things they donate. I have been to D.C. several times, but now would like to re-visit the gallery with a new appreciation and more info. This website is very informative-thank you for the opportunity to learn more about this foundation.

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