Austrian Press Agency (APA) (06/12/2009)

Painting was returned today to Haifa

Vienna - Upon recommendation of Vienna’s Commission on Restitution, the art work entitled, “The Love Letter,“ which was illegally taken from its owners during the NS era, was returned to its heirs. The case involves a painting by Johann Nepomuk Schödberger that belongs to property owned by Ignaz and Clothilde Schachter. The transfer took place in Haifa where the legal heirs are currently living.

The painting was personally handed over by Hannah Lessing, Secretary General of the Republic of Austria’s National Fund for Victims of National Socialism. As stated in a press release: “Through restitution, justice is restored to the injured party decades after the illegal expropriation of property. The City of Vienna and the National Fund are particularly happy over the possibility of delivering the painting personally to the claimants.“ The Schachters were able to flee from the Nazis to Palestine.