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Nazi looted art 'found in Munich' - German media | Nazi looted art 'found in Munich' - German media |
(1 day later) | |
A collection of 1,500 artworks confiscated by the Nazis in the 1930s and 1940s has been found in the German city of Munich, media reports say. | A collection of 1,500 artworks confiscated by the Nazis in the 1930s and 1940s has been found in the German city of Munich, media reports say. |
The trove is believed to include works by Matisse, Picasso and Chagall, the news magazine Focus reports. | The trove is believed to include works by Matisse, Picasso and Chagall, the news magazine Focus reports. |
Some of the works were declared as degenerate by the Nazis, while others were stolen from or forcibly sold for a pittance by Jewish art collectors. | Some of the works were declared as degenerate by the Nazis, while others were stolen from or forcibly sold for a pittance by Jewish art collectors. |
If confirmed, it would be one of the largest recoveries of looted art. | If confirmed, it would be one of the largest recoveries of looted art. |
Investigators put the value of the works at about one billion euros (£846m; $1.35bn), Focus said. | Investigators put the value of the works at about one billion euros (£846m; $1.35bn), Focus said. |
Tax investigation | Tax investigation |
The magazine said the artworks were found by chance in early 2011, when the tax authorities investigated Cornelius Gurlitt, the reclusive son of an art dealer in Munich. | The magazine said the artworks were found by chance in early 2011, when the tax authorities investigated Cornelius Gurlitt, the reclusive son of an art dealer in Munich. |
He was suspected of tax evasion, and investigators obtained a search warrant for his home in Munich. | He was suspected of tax evasion, and investigators obtained a search warrant for his home in Munich. |
There, they found the cache of some 1,500 artworks which had vanished from sight during the Nazi era. | There, they found the cache of some 1,500 artworks which had vanished from sight during the Nazi era. |
The younger Mr Gurlitt had kept the works in darkened rooms and sold the occasional painting when he needed money, Focus reports. | The younger Mr Gurlitt had kept the works in darkened rooms and sold the occasional painting when he needed money, Focus reports. |
The Nazis categorised almost all modern art as "degenerate". It was banned for being un-German or for being the work of Jewish artists. | The Nazis categorised almost all modern art as "degenerate". It was banned for being un-German or for being the work of Jewish artists. |
Some works were confiscated or destroyed; others were sold to collectors for a low price. | Some works were confiscated or destroyed; others were sold to collectors for a low price. |
There are international warrants out for at least 200 of the works, Focus reports. The collection is being held in a secure warehouse in Munich for the time being. | There are international warrants out for at least 200 of the works, Focus reports. The collection is being held in a secure warehouse in Munich for the time being. |
One of the pieces is said to be a portrait of a woman by Matisse which belonged to the grandfather of French TV presenter Anne Sinclair. | One of the pieces is said to be a portrait of a woman by Matisse which belonged to the grandfather of French TV presenter Anne Sinclair. |
Paul Rosenberg, an art dealer who represented Picasso as well as Matisse, was forced to leave his collection behind when he fled France in 1940. | |
The US Holocaust Memorial Museum estimates the Nazis seized about 16,000 works of art in all. | The US Holocaust Memorial Museum estimates the Nazis seized about 16,000 works of art in all. |
Correction 4 November 2013: We initially reported that Paul Rosenberg had fled Germany in the 1930s, which was incorrect - he fled France in 1940. |
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