Boston museum to pay restitution, keep painting

[June 28, 2011]  BOSTON (AP) -- The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston has determined that a 17th century Dutch painting in its collection was once owned by a Jewish art dealer who died at the hands of the Nazis in World War II.

The Boston Globe reports the museum has agreed to pay restitution to Walter Westfield's heir but will keep the Eglon van der Neer painting.

The sum to be paid to Westfield's family was not disclosed. Fred Westfield, who lives in Tennessee and is Walter Westfield's nephew, told the newspaper the family was appreciative of the way the museum handled the matter.

Walter Westfield was killed at Auschwitz. Investigators believe the painting was likely stolen by the Nazis. The MFA purchased it for $7,500 from a New York art dealer in 1941.

[Associated Press]

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