Japan handed over to Poland a 16th century Italian painting that had been looted by Nazi Germany from Poland during World War II and later discovered in Japan, Polish authorities said on May 31.
The “Madonna with Child” artwork, attributed to Italian painter Alessandro Turchi, was returned during a ceremony at Poland’s embassy in Tokyo.
Polish Culture Minister Piotr Glinski said that Japan returned it for free.
Glinski said the artwork was returned to Poland “following negotiations with the Japanese side, the auction house, Mainichi Auction Inc, as well as the person who was in possession of the painting.”
“All legal and cultural-historical arguments were accepted by the Japanese side,” he told reporters in the Polish capital city of Warsaw, The First News reported….