Bristol can keep Nazi-sold Renoir painting

A row over a Renoir painting at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery has been resolved.

The painting was sold at a Nazi organised auction in 1935. It was feared that its owners had been forced to sell it - meaning the museum would have to return it. But now, a government panel has said that wasn't the case, so it can stay on display in Bristol.

The Coast at Cagnes is currently in possession of the City Council, and on display as part of a French collection at the museum. But questions were raised about the legality of its ownership after the original owners claimed it was snatched from Jewish art dealers and sold at a Nazi-organised auction.

The claim went to a government panel, which resolves claims from people, or their heirs, who lost property during the Nazi era, which is not held in UK national collections.

But the Spoliation Advisory Panel has ruled the painting can remain where it is. They concluded that the valuable artwork was sold because of a bank debt as opposed to Nazi persecution and did not need to be returned to relatives of the original owners.