Dutch museums identify 139 pieces looted by the Nazis

Officials in Amsterdam believe group of artworks acquired in 1933 likely to have been appropriated from original Jewish owners

By AP 29 October 2013, 4:57 pm

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AMSTERDAM — Dutch museums have identified 139 pieces of art, including dozens of paintings — one by Matisse and many by Dutch painters of varying renown such as Impressionist Isaac Israels — as likely having been taken forcibly from Jewish owners.

The review of Dutch art acquisitions from 1933 on was conducted by the museums themselves and focused explicitly on pieces for which there was any gap in their ownership record during the years that Germany’s Nazi regime was appropriating works from Jews, either by forced sale or outright seizure.

In a first, the main association of Dutch museums is also launching a website Tuesday to help explain the existence of art of dubious provenance in their collections and assisting heirs in claims.