Brits Could Return Nazi Art

A Nazi painting looted by British troops during the Second World War could be returned to Germany. The seascape, by artist Claus Bergen, was given to the National Maritime Museum by the Government after being seized from the Murwik Naval Academy on Germany's Baltic coast in 1945. But the naval academy is now poised to make a restitution claim after the discovery of a photo of the painting hanging in its main hall, The Art Newspaper reported. The claim would be referred to the Government's spoliation panel, which adjudicates over claims of property stolen during the war. Although this usually refers to artworks looted by the Nazis, art experts believe the rules also apply to paintings wrongly taken by Allied troops. Irish Art