Dutch royal family restitutes 17thC landscape
April 1 2015
Picture: BBC News
The Dutch royal family has decided to restitute the above landscape by Joris van der Haagen, after research showed that it had been looted by the Nazis during the war. The painting was bought for the royal collection in the 1960s, from a dealer who did not disclose the full provenance. Neither the name of the dealer, nor the family to whom the painting is being returned, have been disclosed.
The picture's return is one of the final acts of the Dutch 'Ekkart Commission', which has, under the leadership of the eminent Dutch art historian Rudi Ekkart, been systematically going through Dutch museums to try and find out which works of art need to be restituted since 1997. After seeing the effects of this workin Dutch museums, the Dutch royal family felt they should have their collection investigated too. More here in the Wall Street Journal.
