Stolen Jacob Jordaens painting recovered after 85 years
In May 1940, Belgian resistance fighter Joseph Scheppers de Bergstein was captured by the Nazis. When he regained his freedom at the end of June that year, he discovered that many of his possessions were missing from his home, Emmaüs Castle, in Walem, a borough of Mechelen. Among them was a valuable painting by Jacob Jordaens. The painting has since been recovered.
The Return of the Holy Family from the Flight into Egypt. This painting, completed around 1618, is the work of Antwerp Baroque artist Jacob Jordaens (1593–1678). After almost 85 years and a long journey, the artwork has now been returned to its rightful heirs. Nearly the entire time, it remained hidden in a house in the village of Issamoulenc Les Peyses in the Ardèche, concealed in a secret storage room behind a set of unusual-looking shelves. After extensive detective work, owner Bart van Nieuwland made the remarkable discovery. The painting was located by an art dealer in a database of Nazi-looted art. It was finally officially returned to the relatives of the unfortunate Joseph Scheppers de Bergstein.
The two hands on the reverse, symbolising Antwerp, along with the panel maker’s initials, confirm the authenticity of this Jacob Jordaens painting, valued at €800,000. All things considered, it endured its misadventure quite well. The wood showed no signs of insect damage, dust and mould had been meticulously removed, and the nearly loose panels had been securely fixed. A rare treasure has returned to its rightful place.