Germany to return Matisse painting looted by Nazis

Munich court must ratify the return of the painting. Image by Lars Steffens / CC BY-SA 2.0

Germany has signed an agreement to return an Henri Matisse painting that was seized under Nazi rule to its rightful owner.

Matisse’s Woman Sitting in an Armchair was part of a trove of artworks found in the apartment of the late collector Cornelius Gurlitt.

Experts say the painting was taken from art dealer Paul Rosenberg and rightfully belongs to his descendants.

Culture minister Monika Gruetters’ office confirmed a report in German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that she had signed the agreement.

A similar agreement was signed last week for a painting by Max Liebermann.

Both agreements must be approved by a Munich court handling Gurlitt’s inheritance.

A Swiss museum which accepted Gurlitt’s bequest of his collection has promised to ensure any Nazi-looted pieces are returned to their Jewish owners’ heirs.

(Press Association)