Musée D'Orsay ordered to restitute four masterpieces stolen during WWII and sold to Nazis

A court in French capital of Paris ordered Musée D'Orsay to return four artworks that went stolen during World War II and were subsequently sold to Nazis. four masterpieces, which were created by artists Reir, Cézanne, and Gauguin, were ordered last week to be given back to heirs of Ambroise Vollard, a French art dealer, and rightful owner of prized possessions.

According to Art Newspaper, pieces include two paintings by Reir: an 1883 seascape of Guernsey and a sanguine study,  Still life with mandolin painting by Gauguin, and watercolor painting Undergrowth by Cézanne. However, this isn't first time that French judiciary has ruled in favour of Vollard.

Last year in May, ar court said that works were originally possessed by art dealer even when he unexpectedly died in a car crash in 1939. court confirmed artworks were later stolen by people in line of his succession, who ended up selling m to Nazi officers, German museums, and dealers.

Vollard's heirs and ir fight for restitution

In vember, judgment was also backed by High Court. Fast forward to today, administrative jurisdiction has demanded restitution of paintings. culture ministry mentioned "to be restituted" on four files of artworks which were a part of a larger collection of about 2,000 or works that were found to have t been returned to legitimate owners in Germany after war. 

battle for restitution began in 2013, when Vollard's successors demanded return of seven allegedly stolen works. While y are still waiting to receive three or paintings, four artworks come as a major victory for m that was long meant to happen. François Honrat, one of attorneys of heirs, told outlet: “Although it seems rmal for State to check history of works, before restitution”, he “regrets that process took ten years” as two heirs passed away during period.