On April 5, in Warsaw, the U.S. Embassy attended a reception hosted by the National Museum in Warsaw. The event marked the return of U.S. citizens and art collectors Craig Gilmore and David Crocker to Poland. They are visiting to film a documentary about their involvement in repatriating looted art to Poland.
In September 2018, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage held a ceremony for the return of "Portrait of a Lady," a painting from 1628 that was looted by Nazis during World War II from the National Museum. It had ended up in the United States. Mr. Gilmore and Mr. Crocker, who bought the artwork at an auction house, were informed by Homeland Security Investigations about its history. They decided to relinquish it so it could be returned to its rightful place at the National Museum in Warsaw.
The reception was attended by representatives from various organizations, including the Ministry of Culture's Looted Art Division, Association of Friends of the National Museum in Warsaw, POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, and Campaign against Homophobia.
Inspired by gratitude following their gesture last fall, Mr. Crocker and Mr. Gilmore have begun supporting educational missions at several institutions including the National Museum of Warsaw and POLIN Museum. Their aim is to foster understanding between Poland and the United States.
The U.S. Embassy expressed appreciation for Mr. Gilmore's and Mr. Crocker's efforts in strengthening ties between both countries.