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[Winslow]

Hello,

Two works of art are commissioned, the first about 1900, the other about 30 years later. Both the patron and the artist pass on, and the works are purchased and donated to a public institution.

QUESTION: Does copyright law apply if the works are owned and reside in the public domain?

Thank you.

W

[Kaitlin]

Ownership of the physical, original work does not affect the copyright in the work. 
What does affect the current status of the copyright is the law that was in effect when the work was created and/or registered. 
Cornell has a handy chart covering various permutations of US copyright law and showing when works created at various periods of time should enter the public domain: http://www.copyright.cornell.edu/resources/publicdomain.cfm

[Winslow]

Thank you for the link...I will take a look.