[nonesuch]

A friend of mine has inherited a great deal of money and stuff. Among the stuff is a painting by an early American artist (I can't remember his name). A mutual friend- a graphic designer by trade- attracted by the date (1815), looked it up and found it to be the 'missing' painting of a 13 painting series of fruits. I should mention he is the last man standing of several generations of hard working, frugal people. Not upper-middle class, living on the hill in a house full of art objects but a modest house in a now gang riddled area. Since his parents died the house has been filled with junk. Not junque- junk. He kinda likes the painting which his grandfather won in a poker game in the 1940s. So, my inclination is to just let it be but something nags me to make the whereabouts of the painting known to parties of concern. I would do nothing without his consent, of course. Should I do nothing or is there any obligation to the art world to try?

[Fasces]

Ask him to bequeath it at his death?

[Decky]

Tell him how much it is worth so he knows to look after it.

[Potemkin]

A mutual friend- a graphic designer by trade- attracted by the date (1815), looked it up and found it to be the 'missing' painting of a 13 painting series of fruits.

'Missing' does not necessarily mean stolen - it simply means that the art world has lost track of it (unsurprisingly, if its previous owner lost it in a poker game). So long as your friend legally owns the painting (and I'm assuming that he does), there's no reason not to notify the relevant authorities that it exists - getting it valued might be the easiest way of doing that.

[nonesuch]

Thanks fellas. I'm going to suggest he bequeath it to his church. He gives a lot to them in any case. He's completely unconcerned about its value apparently as he has made no effort to find it out.