Painting looted by Nazis in World War II returns to Poland from Japan

This handout picture provided by the Polish Institute in Tokyo on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 shows the precious 16th century baroque painting 'Madonna with Child' attributed to Alessandro Turchi, which was looted from a private Polish collection by Nazi Germany during World War II, and has been found in Japan and returned to Polish ownership. (Polish Institute in Tokyo/ Przemyslaw Sliwinski via AP)
This handout picture provided by the Polish Institute in Tokyo on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 shows the precious 16th century baroque painting 'Madonna with Child' attributed to Alessandro Turchi, which was looted from a private Polish collection by Nazi Germany during World War II, and has been found in Japan and returned to Polish ownership. (Polish Institute in Tokyo/ Przemyslaw Sliwinski via AP)

WARSAW, Poland (AP) -- A priceless 16th century Italian painting that was looted by Nazi Germany during World War II and discovered in Japan has been returned to Poland, authorities in Warsaw said Wednesday.

The "Madonna with Child" attributed to Alessandro Turchi, is the latest of some 600 looted artistic pieces that Poland has successfully repatriated. More than 66,000 so-called war losses remain unaccounted for. The painting was handed over Wednesday during a ceremony at Poland's Embassy in Tokyo.

Culture Minister Piotr Glinski told reporters in Warsaw the baroque painting was on the Nazis' list of the 521 most valuable pieces of art among the tens of thousands of artworks that they looted when they occupied Poland from 1939-45.

He said it was "not easy" to explain the history behind the looted works as well as the need for their return. But he said the "Madonna with Child" was returned following negotiations with the Japanese side and the "Mainichi Auction Inc. as well as the person who was in possession of the painting have decided to return it to Poland, without any costs."

photo Poland's culture minister, Piotr Glinski, right, adresses the media during a press conference in Warsaw, Poland, Wednesday, May 31, 2023. Glinski said that a precious 16th century painting "Madonna with Child," attributed to Alessandro Turchi, that was looted from a private Polish collection by Nazi Germany during World War II has been found in Japan and returned to Poland's ownership. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)