March 29, 2011

Getty Museum to return Nazi-looted painting

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The Getty Museum in Los Angeles will return a 17th-century Dutch painting looted by the Nazis to the heir of the Jewish art dealer.

Jewish art dealer Jacques Goudstikker left 1,400 works of art in his Amsterdam gallery when he fled the Nazis in 1940. He died during the escape. His gallery was looted by Hermann Goering shortly afterward. In 2006, the Dutch government returned 202 paintings from its national collection to Goudstikker’s sole heir, Marei von Saher.

In returning the painting “Landscape With Cottage and Figures” by Dutch artist Pieter Molijn, the Getty Museum becomes the first American institution to offer restitution to von Saher, who is the widow of Goudstikker’s son.

The painting never went on display at the museum, which purchased the painting at an auction in 1972 for an undisclosed amount, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Four other museums in the United States and Canada have been identified as holding Goudstikker paintings, according to the newspaper.