During the 1930s , the Soviet government under Joseph Stalin began selling art treasures and other valuables seized from the Romanov family and former Russian aristocrats after the Russian Revolution to earn hard currency for its industrialisation and military armament programs . Critics have claimed that these items were expropriated ; however , Post and Davies 's transactions were from the recognised governmental authority . Neither she nor Davies were involved with the original seizing of the items . Allegations later surfaced that many works of art from the Tretyakov Gallery and other collections were either donated or offered at nominal prices to Post and Davies , who were both art collectors . Davies is also alleged to have purchased art expropriated from Soviet citizens well after the Russian Revolution , including victims of Stalin 's Terror at discount prices from Soviet authorities
Stalin 's Terror
Great Purge
Marjorie Merriweather Post