Painting stolen by Nazis back in Austrian museum

[August 23, 2010]  VIENNA (AP) -- A painting by Austrian expressionist Egon Schiele has been rehung at a Vienna museum after a 12-year possession battle over the artwork stolen by the Nazis.

The painting was returned over the weekend after the Leopold Museum agreed to pay $19 million (euro15 million) as part of the settlement. U.S. authorities had refused to return the painting after it was exhibited in New York because heirs of the owners laid a claim to it.

The painting was put on display again Monday. Leopold Museum head Peter Weinhaeupl called it a "symbolic day" for the museum.

[Associated Press]

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