Looted Art; Racially motivated Transfers of Artworks and their post-war Restitution

Abstract

The paper describes and critically evaluates the approach of the contemporary Czech Republic to the restitution of works of art confiscated under the pressure of Nazi persecution. This goal is achieved both by a brief analysis of legislation and general restitution case law before the adoption of Act No. 212/2000 Coll., as amended, and by a summary of international principles on Nazi-Confiscated Art, which are then compared to the recent Czech approach. Emphasis is placed on law regulation and related case law, references to foreign experience are rather illustrative. Finally, the Czech legislation is briefly evaluated and both 'de lege ferenda' proposals and practical recommendations for institutions managing Czech state collections are given.