A very old painting that was taken from a Belgian collector during World War II is finally going back to his family. This painting has spent over 30 years at London’s Tate Gallery. This return is part of a worldwide effort to give back artwork that was stolen by the Nazis.
The painting, called “Aeneas and His Family Fleeing Burning Troy,” is by artist Henry Gibbs and was created in 1654. The Nazis took it from Samuel Hartveld, who loved art, because they were persecuting him because of his race. The United Kingdom’s Spoliation Advisory Panel, which helps return stolen art, has confirmed that the painting will soon be with Hartveld’s descendants. This brings an end to a long and unfair story.
The painting shows a scene inspired by the ancient story of the Aeneid by Virgil. Art historians believe Gibbs created it to reflect on the English Civil War. The Tate Gallery got this artwork in 1994 from a gallery in Brussels.
Samuel Hartveld and his wife fled Belgium in 1940 when the Nazis invaded. Although he survived, he never got his art collection back. The Nazis sold his home and paintings for very little money. Many of Hartveld’s missing artworks are thought to still be in museums across Europe. His family started asking for this painting to be returned in 2024, which led to its upcoming return.
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