Florida Family Receives Nearly 500 Year Old Painting Stolen During World War II
by Algemeiner Staff
"Christ Carrying the Cross Dragged".
A painting nearly 500 year old painting will be turned over to family representatives of Federico Gentili di Giuseppe by U.S. authorities today in Florida.
The work, “Cristo Portacroce” or “Christ Carrying the Cross Dragged”, was stolen when Giuseppe’s family was forced to flee France after Nazi Germany invaded the country and was sold by the Vichy government of France.
The piece was in the U.S. on loan from a museum in Milan, Italy.
After U.S. authorities learned of Giuseppe’s family’s desire to have the painting returned, because the sale of the work was illegal, it was taken from the Brogan Museum in Florida. U.S. attorney Pamela Marsh said she heard from Giueseppe’s grandson over the phone.
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“He was bubbling over with joy and excitement. He said thank you doesn’t express or come close to expressing the emotion he was feeling,” she said.
Representatives from European and U.S. law enforcement are expected to attend the proceeding at the Federal Courthouse in Tallahassee at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
