The FBI in Chicago is looking for the owner of a work by Jacobus Albertus Michael Jacobs, better known as Jacobs Jacobs. It was allegedly stolen during the Second World War in Luxembourg, reports local media Le Quotidien.
The painting, representing ships on the sea, could have been stolen by a soldier who participated in the Battle of the Bulge. Anyone with information on the rightful owners of this painting can email seascapetips@fbi.gov. The work appears to be in poor condition, with numerous folds in places. In good condition, it could have sold for between 2,500 and 3,000 euros, estimates the auctioneer Alexandre Chateau-Ducos. The FBI has traced the journey of 20,000 stolen works of art since the looting of the Iraqi National Museum 20 years ago. The goal is to return artistic objects stolen to their owners, particularly during conflicts. The “Art Crime team” has already made it possible to trace the journey of 20,000 stolen works of art.