Overview
- The National Gallery of Victoria deaccessioned the 17th‑century painting in 2025 and returned it to the heirs of Dr Henry Bromberg.
- The work was acquired by the NGV in 1945 and remained in the collection for about 80 years.
- The museum cited new evidence for the decision but has not disclosed details of that material.
- Researcher Jason Schulman noted the painting’s removal from the NGV website in early September and its subsequent appearance on Germany’s Lost Art database, and he questioned the lack of public explanation.
- The return is reportedly only the second successful Nazi‑era restitution by an Australian museum and aligns with other Bromberg‑related recoveries, including a 2025 Christie’s sale after an Allentown Art Museum agreement and earlier French returns.