"The commission ultimately concluded that the work had been sold by the Antwerp art dealer Samuel Hartveld under duress following the German occupation of Belgium in 1940. Two years later, the Germans reportedly sold it to an Antwerp restorer, who then sold it to the city in 1948, shortly after the end of World War II. Crucially, researchers discovered that Ghent later provided financial compensation to Hartveld and his family for their losses."
"as first reported by De Standaard. The article added that the committee's belief that Hartveld had been compensated rose from its view that he and the restorer, René Van de Broek, likely held paintings in "joint management." This, the committee stated, created "the factual presumption" that Hartveld "must have believed that he had been sufficiently compensated," according to the report."
MSK in Ghent declined to restitute Gaspar de Craye's Portrait of Bishop Triest, stating the painting's original owner and heirs received financial compensation. An independent commission found the painting was sold under duress by Antwerp dealer Samuel Hartveld after the 1940 German occupation, then sold by the Germans to a restorer and later to the city in 1948. Researchers discovered Ghent provided compensation to Hartveld and family, which underpins MSK's stance. Hartveld's heirs and Jewish advocacy groups contest the decision, citing doubts that Hartveld received the full purchase price. The commission recommended acknowledging the spoliation as moral redress.
Read at ARTnews.com
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