The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation went into action when a 17th century Dutch painting turned up for sale in New York City. The painting was last seen during World War II, when it was seized by pro-German forces. FBI officials learned of the sale in late 2017. A short time later, the FBI’s Art Crime Team recovered the painting and, with the help of a court order, worked to return the piece to its rightful owners. It was the latest of many major theft cases for the 22-person FBI office that works to solve art-related crimes. The office is part of a federal agency best known for chasing bank robbers, spies and other criminals. Solomon Koninck’s 17th-century painting “A Scholar Sharpening His Quill,” was one of many treasures belonging to the family of art collector Adolphe Schloss. The artworks were stolen by the Vichy government in France 75 years ago. The painting was once in the Munich office of German leader Adolph Hitler, but it disappeared at the end of World War II. The piece showed up at Christie’s auction house in New York. Christie’s told the FBI last year that a Chilean art seller was trying to sell it.
