Germany, Xanten Cathedral returns painting stolen by the Nazis from a Jewish family

In Germany, the cathedral in Xanten, a town of 21,000 in North Rhine-Westphalia, has returned to its rightful owners a painting that had been stolen by the Nazis from a Jewish family during World War II. It is a View of a Dutch Square, attributed to Dutch painter Jan van der Heyden (Gorinchem, 1637 - Amsterdam, 1712) and painted around 1700. The painting was part of the extensive collection of Gottlieb and Mathilde Kraus: one hundred and sixty pieces taken by the Nazis in 1941. The Kraus left Austria in 1938, but their art collection remained in their native country, and as a result the Gestapo seized it. The assets were then sold and dispersed.

The work attributed to van der Heyden ended up in the hands of photographer Heinrich Hoffmann, a friend of Hitler. After the war, the painting was found by the Allies, who returned it to the state of Bavaria: however, Bavaria, instead of returning it to its rightful owners, passed it, like many other works, on to the heirs of the Nazis who had purchased it after the looting (in this case to Henriette Hoffmann-von Schirach, Heinrich’s daughter). Through further steps the painting came to Xanten Cathedral, which purchased it in 1963, without, however, knowing, explained a spokesman for the foundation that runs the church, that it was a work that had resulted from looting by the Nazis. And now, after acknowledging that the purchase was the result of an injustice that happened in the past, the foundation has decided to hand over the painting to its owners. After 78 years since it was unjustly taken away. Now, the other one hundred and sixty pieces, still missing, are also waiting to know identical fate.

Germany, Xanten Cathedral returns painting stolen by the Nazis from a Jewish family

Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.