Two Nazi-Looted Paintings Were Returned to a Jewish Family, Who Donated Them Back to the Louvre

During World War II, the Nazis stole two 17th-century paintings from a Jewish family in France. After spending decades at the Louvre, the artworks were recently returned to the owners’ heirs—who decided to donate them back to the Paris museum. They are now on view at the Louvre as part of a on Nazi-looted art.

Floris van Schooten’s and Peter Binoit’s had been held by the Louvre since the 1950s, per a from the museum. During those years, they were part of the program, which tries to identify the owners of Nazi-looted works returned to France after the war. French museums still house many of the pieces without confirmed owners.



In 1944, Nazis stole the two paintings from a Parisian mansion owned by Mathilde Javal, according to (AFP). During World War II, some members of the Javal family went into hiding or fought in the resistance. Five were deported from France and murdered at .

Mathilde Javal survived the war and later filed an official restitution request. However, a lack of sufficient information about ownership, as well as errors in the spelling of names and addresses, prevented the return of the paintings, per the Louvre. About ten years ago, a group of partnered with France’s culture ministry to investigate the rightful owners of six paintings in the National Museum Recuperation program—including and .

The research was conducted free of charge. The two works were ultimately returned to the 48 members of the Javal family, who donated them back to the Louvre. I.