France gives long-unclaimed artwork to Jewish couple’s heirs

PARIS — A 16th century oil painting that fell into Nazi hands during World War II was returned by France’s government to a Jewish couple’s heirs Monday.

The Flemish painting “Triptych of the Crucifixion” is attributed to Joachim Patinir and it had sat unclaimed in a French museum for seven decades.

French Culture Minister Francoise Nyssen presented it to the grandchildren of Hertha and Henry Bromberg during a ceremony at Paris’ culture ministry.

The Jewish couple sold works under duress to secure their passage from Nazi Germany to the United States.