‘Like a mini Louvre’: two generations of Rothschilds fight over treasure trove of artworks | Europe

After three generations of genteel discretion bordering on secrecy, the international banking family Rothschilds have been torn apart by rival claims to a fortune worth billions of euros, including a vast collection of artistic masterpieces.

The battle now playing out in the courts and in the media has pitted the 93-year-old veteran baroness Nadine de Rothschild (widow of Edmond de Rothschild, the late scion of the Franco-Swiss branch of the family) against her daughter-in-law Ariane de Rothschild, the current baroness.

The cases center on the family’s extensive collection of furniture, priceless historical objects and paintings held at the baronial estate of Chateau de Pregny in Switzerland, which one visitor described as a “mini Louvre”.

The Rothschild family maintains a code of silence about the exact contents of the castle overlooking Lake Geneva, where photographers and curious visitors are off-limits, but among them are the 16th century. There are reportedly treasures including St. Louis furniture and works by Goya, Rembrandt, Fragonard, El Greco and Boucher.

Nadine claims that her husband, who died in 1997, bequeathed to her a significant part of the collection he created, and that he wanted to place this collection in a new museum in Geneva, dedicated to the exhibition of the Edmond and Nadine de Rothschild Foundation collection he created.

Ariane, who was married to Edmond and Nadine’s only child Benjamin, who died in 2021, insists that the collection remains intact and remains in the castle.

In court documents, Ariane, 60, drew parallels with the late L’Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt, accusing the elderly baroness of being influenced by her advisors. In 2011, Bettencourt’s daughter sought a declaration of insanity after he gave gifts worth an estimated €1 billion to a young photographer friend.

Speaking from her home in the Swiss countryside and regularly appearing on television chat shows about manners and manners, Nadine told the Guardian: “I knew Liliane and I can tell you that she is not a woman who you can make to do something she absolutely does not want. I am not under anyone’s influence either. You can tell from my voice and my answers that it would be difficult to impress me.”

“I am the last Rothschild baroness of my generation. The others are dead. Of course, it saddens me to end my life with such a huge legal struggle.”

“In the beginning, I opened my arms to my daughter-in-law; we have photos together, and I was generous with personal gifts for her.”

The senior baroness had a harder time. Born Nadine Lhopitalier, she grew up in a pro-communist family and left home at the age of 14. Two years later he was sewing snaps on Peugeot sunroofs and working as an artist’s model. She later took the stage name Nadine Tallier and appeared in music halls and small films.

He met Edmond de Rothschild in the early 1960s. She later described their first meeting: “He looked at my ring and said, ‘It’s very beautiful, but unfortunately the diamond is fake.'”

The couple married in 1963. From then on, all the jewels were real.

As the wife of the wealthiest member of the banking family, Nadine oversaw the management of their 14 properties and remained there for decades. beautiful monde – Including the Kennedys, Audrey Hepburn, Maria Callas, Princess Diana, Romy Schneider and Greta Garbo.

Nadine admits that Benjamin, who was raised by nannies, had an absent mother. He claimed that he treated him like an “heir” and not a son. He insists that he welcomed his wife Ariane into the family in 1999 and moved from the 1,126 square meter Chateau de Pregny to a mansion on 18 hectares (44 acres) of land, leaving the family home to the young couple, who have four daughters.

Nadine says that after Benjamin’s death, relations between the two baronesses became “irreparable”. He has since left the estate and is living “comfortably” in the countryside outside Geneva.

Today, both sides have won the legal battles, but the family war continues unabated. Ariane lost her attempt to ban Nadine from using Edmond’s name for her foundation; Nadine lost all legal rights to enter the castle. A third lawsuit regarding ownership of works of art and other items is ongoing.

A source close to the family said Ariane and her daughters will not discuss the separation.

“Out of respect for all parties, the family is not commenting on this matter, which it handles with extreme restraint,” the source said in a statement. “The family is fully committed to family activities, working every day to preserve and pass on their legacy.”

Nadine is less restrained.

“I inherited many items from the Chateau de Pregny from my wife, but after the death of my son it became impossible to get them back. So unfortunately I had to resort to legal action.”

Ariane’s representatives argued that Nadine had not made any claim to the artworks until Benjamin’s death, at which time she no longer had a valid claim to the artworks; It’s a question at the heart of the ongoing legal case.

“We are talking about important objects, classified historical objects that belong in a museum,” says Nadine. “I don’t see much of the younger generation [of Rothschilds] I want to carry the burden of such things, but no matter what, my grandchildren will inherit it.

“I have not lost hope that my grandchildren will understand that this war is not against them, but between their mother and grandmother. My only hope is that one day they will appreciate that I did this for the honor of the family.”