People look at a display of looted art on a video screen as they attend the Provenance Research Training Program to the Nazi-looted art, in Magdeburg, central Germany, Thursday, June 14, 2012. (photo: AP /Jens Meyer)
VIENNA — A spokeswoman for the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra says the famed ensemble plans to return a valuable French Neo-Impressionist painting looted by the Nazis to relatives of its original Jewish owner.
Claudia Kapsamer said Friday that the oil painting by Paul Signa will be handed over to Marcel Koch’s relatives in about three weeks.
A Nazi police official gave the orchestra Signa’s “Port-en-Bessin” in 1940 for its performances in occupied France.
The painting’s estimated value is around $500,000, or more than 470,000 euros.
The Golden Hall, home of the Vienna Philharmonic (photo credit: Clemens PFEIFFER, A-1190 Wien, Wikimedia Commons)
The orchestra purged Jewish members and closely cooperated with Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels and other top Hitler associates after Germany’s 1938 annexation of Austria.
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It has worked in recent years to research and reveal its Nazi past and to make amends.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press
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