France to Return Stolen Nazi Art to Heirs of Jewish Owners

THE JEWISH VOICE
By Elad Benari

“Saint Francis” (1709-1769) by Salvator Francesco Fontebasso

FRANCE---France will return seven paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries to the heirs of two Jewish families whose artworks were stolen during World War II, the French culture ministry told AFP on Thursday, February 14. Six paintings by Italian and German artists will be returned to Thomas Selldorff, the octogenarian grandson of Austrian textile magnate Richard Neumann, who was forced to flee his country in 1938. His grandson is based in the United States. The works include “The Allegory of Venice” by Gaspare Diziani (1689-1767), “Saint Francis” by Salvator Francesco Fontebasso (1709-1769) and Venetian painter Alessandro Longhi’s “Portrait of Bartolomeo Ferracina.” [link]