A significant modern art collection assembled by late Swiss businessman Werner Merzbacher has become the focus of a legal dispute over the ownership and control of the artworks following his death in 2024.

Merzbacher, who built his wealth through the fur trade and currency trading, was widely recognized as one of the world’s leading art collectors. Much of his collection was inherited through his grandfather-in-law, Bernhard Mayer, and included masterpieces from some of history’s most celebrated artists.

The collection features Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, Fauvist, and German Expressionist works by renowned names such as Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse, Max Beckmann, and Alexej von Jawlensky.

The current legal proceedings are centered on the interpretation of Merzbacher’s will and determining who has the legal authority to manage and control the valuable collection.

Merzbacher was recognized internationally for his contributions to the art world and was included in the ARTnews Top 200 Collectors list in both 1996 and 2014. His collection is regarded as one of the most important private holdings of modern European art.

The outcome of the legal battle could determine the future ownership, management, and potential public accessibility of one of Switzerland’s most significant private art collections.