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Minneapolis hands Léger to collector’s family

The painting was stolen from its Jewish owner during the Nazi occupation of France

Martha Lufkin
1 December 2008
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Boston

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MIA) and the Alphonse Kann association announced on 29 October that the museum is restituting the painting Smoke Over Rooftops, 1911, by Fernand Léger. Provenance research undertaken by both parties proved that the work was stolen by Nazis from the leading Jewish collector Alphonse Kann during the Nazi occupation of France. MIA director Kaywin Feldman said that while the museum would be sorry to see the painting go, she was glad to see it returned to the owner’s family.

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RestitutionLooted artFernand LegerNazi lootMinneapolis Institute of Art ProvenanceJewish Heritage
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