The City of Ghent has followed the unanimous advice of an independent commission to deny a restitution claim for the painting Portrait of Bishop Antonius Triest by Gaspar de Crayer. Following an extensive investigation, the commission concluded there are no grounds for the return of the work to the heirs of art dealer Samuel Hartveld.
Provenance and Investigation
On 3 October 2023, the Museum voor Schone Kunsten (MSK) received a restitution claim for the Portrait of Bishop Antonius Triest (after 1630) by Gaspar de Crayer. The portrait is owned by the City of Ghent and is part of the MSK collection (inv. 1948-Z).
Gaspar de Crayer, Portrait of Bishop Antonius Triest, after 1630
Museum of Fine Arts, Ghent
The claim prompted a comprehensive provenance study. The commission confirmed that the painting was indeed confiscated by occupying forces during the Second World War. However, the investigation also determined that Hartveld and his heirs had already been compensated for the loss in the years following the war. Consequently, the commission found no justification for further restitution or financial indemnification.
Commitment to Transparency
On 20 November 2025, the City of Ghent formally decided to adopt the commission’s advice and retain the painting. While the claim was rejected, the City and the MSK emphasized that the work’s turbulent provenance will be explicitly documented moving forward. This history will be included in all future publications and provenance records related to the artwork.
Further information and the full text of the advisory report, including an English translation, are available on the city’s website.