Met museum sued by family over allegedly Nazi-looted Van Gogh painting

"The suit alleges the couple, Hedwig and Frederick Stern, bought the painting, Olive Picking, in 1935, the year before they were forced to flee their home in Munich. It argues that the Met, which bought the artwork in 1956 for $125,000 before selling it to a Greek shipping magnate in 1972, knew, or should have known, the painting was probably looted."

"Before the family's emigration, the Nazi government declared the painting to be German cultural property' and prohibited the Sterns from bringing the painting (and others in their collection) with them abroad. After obtaining permission from a Nazi official, a trustee' appointed by the Nazis sold the painting in Germany on the Sterns' behalf, but the proceeds of the sale were deposited in a blocked account,' which the Nazis later confiscated, lawyers for the heirs said in the filing."

Heirs of Hedwig and Frederick Stern seek the return of Vincent van Gogh's Olive Picking and damages, alleging Nazi-era looting. The Sterns bought the painting in 1935 and fled Munich in 1936, prevented from taking the work abroad after the Nazi government declared it German cultural property. A Nazi-appointed trustee sold the painting and proceeds were placed in a blocked account later confiscated. The painting arrived in New York after World War II, was owned by Vincent Astor, purchased by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1956, and later sold to Greek collectors in 1972.

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