The heirs of Samuel Hartveld, a Jewish Belgian art collector who fled the Nazi occupation of Belgium during the Second World War, are set to be reunited with a treasured painting looted from his collection.
The artwork, Aeneas and His Family Fleeing Burning Troy by Henry Gibbs, is currently in the collection of the Tate but will soon be returned to its rightful owners following a ruling by the government’s Spoliation Advisory Panel.
Samuel Hartveld and his wife were forced to leave their home city of Antwerp in May 1940, abandoning their possessions as the German forces advanced.
Among the most valued pieces lost was the 17th-century painting by Gibbs, one of 66 works that made up Hartveld’s private gallery. After the German occupation, the collection was seized and sold, with Hartveld receiving none of the proceeds. The painting in question resurfaced decades later, eventually acquired by the Tate from Brussels-based Galerie Jan de Maere in 1994.
The Spoliation Advisory Panel was established in 2000 to handle claims regarding cultural property lost during the Nazi era and held in UK public collections. Over the past 25 years, the panel has reviewed 23 claims, resulting in the return of 14 artworks to the heirs of their original owners. This latest decision reaffirms the UK’s commitment to addressing historical injustices stemming from the Nazi plundering of European art collections.
Announcing the decision, Arts Minister Sir Chris Bryant stated: “The case of Samuel Hartveld is a perfect example of the Spoliation Advisory Panel fulfilling its essential purpose—reuniting families with the treasured artworks stolen from them during the darkest period of European history. The decision to return this painting is absolutely the right one, and I welcome it wholeheartedly.”
Tate’s director, Maria Balshaw, echoed the sentiment, acknowledging that “it is a profound privilege to help reunite this work with its rightful heirs. Although the provenance of the painting was thoroughly investigated when it was acquired in 1994, crucial details of its history were not known at the time.”
She went on to express gratitude towards the Sonia Klein Trust and the Spoliation Advisory Panel for their work in resolving the case, stating that “Tate looks forward to welcoming the family in the coming months and formally presenting the painting to them.”
The trustees of the Sonia Klein Trust, acting on behalf of Hartveld’s heirs, also welcomed the ruling. In a statement, they noted: “This decision clearly acknowledges the awful Nazi persecution of Samuel Hartveld and that the ‘clearly looted’ painting belonged to him. We are deeply grateful to the Spoliation Advisory Panel for their recommendation and to Tate Britain for their cooperation in facilitating the painting’s return.”
They further highlighted the contribution of historian Geert Sels, author of Kunst voor das Reich, whose research helped trace the fate of Hartveld’s collection and identify missing pieces, including Aeneas and His Family Fleeing Burning Troy.
The painting itself is a striking narrative work that draws on themes of exile and displacement. Gibbs’ depiction of Aeneas, the Trojan hero, rescuing his family from the flames of Troy resonates deeply with Hartveld’s own story of forced flight and loss. The artwork is also believed to reference the English Civil War, an era of turmoil and displacement in Britain, making its return to the Hartveld heirs all the more poignant.
The case for restitution was formally submitted by the Sonia Klein Trust in May 2024, supported by extensive research into the painting’s provenance. The Spoliation Advisory Panel reviewed the evidence and concluded that the legal and moral claims for restitution were compelling, advising the Secretary of State that the work should be returned.
The UK Government has praised Tate’s willingness to fully cooperate with the process and accept the panel’s recommendation in full. This case marks another step in the ongoing efforts to redress historical wrongs and restore looted artworks to their rightful owners.
For the Hartveld heirs, this decision represents more than just the return of a painting—it is a long-awaited recognition of their family’s history and a poignant reminder of the cultural losses suffered by Jewish collectors during the Holocaust. As art institutions continue to reckon with the legacies of wartime looting, the return of Aeneas and His Family Fleeing Burning Troy sets a precedent for future restitutions and the ethical stewardship of art collections worldwide.
Story/Image: https://www.gov.uk/
