Untacked

84 FA L L 2 014 U N TAC K E D ment wall for decades," Toren's filing with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia states. "In the fall of 2011… Cornelius admits that he attempted to sell Two Riders, but he resorted to selling a different painting instead because he physically could not get Two Riders off the wall." But there's no real precedent for such a compli- cated dispute. Statutes of limitation on any wrong- doing could be expired, and though Friedmann heirs exist, Gurlitt may have—in the eyes of the law— rightfully inherited the art. Provenance can be tricky. e Horses of St. Mark's Basilica are a quintes- sential example. ese four bronze statues (actually 96 percent copper) are near-life size, athletic, aggres- sive, confident and stunningly beautiful examples of ancient art. Also known as the Triumphal Quadriga, they were sculpted around 300 BC, but evidence is inconclusive as to whether their origin is Greek or Roman. Captured by the Turks in the 9th century, they went to the Hippodrome in Constantinople (now Istanbul), a giant stage for chariot races. In the 13th century during the Fourth Crusade, the conquer- ing Venetians carted the horses off to Venice to St. Mark's. More than 500 years later, when Napoleon conquered Italy, these "Venetian" horses traveled to Paris and stood regally atop Napoleon's Arc de Tri- omphe. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS PHOTO TRAVEL THE HORSE IN ART The Horses of St. Mark's, also known as the Triumphal Quadriga, date back to 300 BC and have been plundered as spoils of war count- less times throughout history.

• Cover