A painting which had been looted from Poland during the Second World War has been returned to Poland after a ceremony in Japan.
The painting, entitled Madonna with Child, is believed to have been painted by an Italian artist, Alessandro Turchi in the 16th century.
The painting had been listed by Nazi officials as one of the pieces of art that had been taken from Poland. It is believed that the painting was taken to Germany in 1940. It reappeared in the 1990s and was due to be auctioned in January last year. However, the Polish government intervened when the auction came to its attention. After proof that it had been looted, the painting’s owner and the auction house agreed to return it to Poland.
At a ceremony in Tokyo this week the painting was formally returned to the Polish government.
Poland recently launched an initiative to trace artwork and other valuables which had been stolen during the Nazi and Soviet occupations of the 1940s. The Polish government is also seeking more than US$1 trillion in reparations from Germany for damage caused by the Nazis.