Germany agrees to return painting stolen by Nazis to Italy

5 Jul 2019

Germany agrees to return painting stolen by Nazis to Italy

Germany agrees to return painting stolen by Nazis to ItalyGermany says it will return a painting stolen in World War II by Nazi soldiers.

The painting called the 'Vase of Flowers' painted by Dutch master Jan van Huysum, is estimated to be worth millions of euros.
 	It was taken in 1943 from the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy.
 	After it was taken, it has been in the hands of a German family.

In January 2019, Uffizi head Eike Schmidt asked Germany to help bring it back to the museum.

Why did 'Vase of Flowers' take so long to return?

The painting was missing until 1991.
 	The family who has it now had demanded up to €2 million for the painting.
 	The German authorities had said that it could not interfere due to a statute of limitations* on crimes more than 30 years old.
 	But after Mr Eike's request, the German government contacted the family who has it.

A black and white photo of Vase of Flowers has been hanging in the gallery - inscribed with the word "stolen" in English, German and Italian - during the wait for the original's return.

Many paintings stolen by Nazi soldiers during World War II are slowly being returned to their original owners.

*Statute of limitations: a law that limits the period of time during which someone can be punished for a crime committed

Credits: Wikimedia Commons

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