International
FBI returns Nazi-looted Monet pastel to Jewish owners' heirs 84 years later
WASHINGTON — In 1940, the Nazis seized a Claude Monet pastel and seven other works of art from Adalbert 'Bela' and Hilda Parlagi, a Jewish couple forced to flee their Vienna home after Austria was annexed into Adolf Hitler's Germany. After the war,
WASHINGTON — In 1940, the Nazis seized a Claude Monet pastel and seven other works of art from Adalbert 'Bela' and Hilda Parlagi, a Jewish couple forced to flee their Vienna home after Austria was annexed into Adolf Hitler's Germany.
After the war, Bela Parlagi searched for his art to no avail until his death in 1981. His son continued the search without success until he died in 2012.
But on Wednesday (Oct 9), more than 80 years later, Parlagi's granddaughters Helen Lowe and Francoise Parlagi were reunited with the missing Monet after the FBI and a Britain-based nonprofit located it in the US.
"It's an act of justice to have it returned," said Anne Webber, the co-chair of the Commission for Looted Art in Europe, the non-profit that started helping Parlagis' heirs search for the missing art in 2014. "It has huge sentimental feeling for the family."
After the war, Bela Parlagi searched for his art to no avail until his death in 1981. His son continued the search without success until he died in 2012.
But on Wednesday (Oct 9), more than 80 years later, Parlagi's granddaughters Helen Lowe and Francoise Parlagi were reunited with the missing Monet after the FBI and a Britain-based nonprofit located it in the US.
"It's an act of justice to have it returned," said Anne Webber, the co-chair of the Commission for Looted Art in Europe, the non-profit that started helping Parlagis' heirs search for the missing art in 2014. "It has huge sentimental feeling for the family."