Deal reached on painting seized by Nazis
Munich- A valuable 17th century painting seized by the Nazis has
been returned to the family of its former owner but will remain on
display at a Munich gallery, according to an agreement signed Monday.
The oil painting Still Life with a Porcelain Jug by Dutch master
Willem Kalf was unlawfully obtained from Jewish art collector Josef
Block nearly 70 years ago.
It has been hanging at the Alte Pinakothek gallery in Munich, where
it will remain following an agreement signed with Block's grandson,
Peter Block. Under the deal, the gallery paid an undisclosed sum to
Block for the painting.
Willem Kalf (1622-1693) is considered one of the most important Dutch still life painters of the 17th century.
The Nazis stole countless works of art from Jewish collectors or forced them to sell their works at knock-down prices.
In recent years there have been growing efforts to find and
compensate families of art collectors disappropriated before and during
World War II. (dpa)
