A Bologna preliminary
hearings judge on Friday ordered the seizure of eight paintings
including Titian and Tintoretto taken by the Nazis at the end of
World War Two on Hermann Goering's orders and given to
Yugoslavia.
The Bologna probe aims to get the paintings back.
It could be tough, however, given that Belgrade authorities
have already rejected Italian prosecutors' requests to carry out
judicial action in Serbia.
Belgrade is unlikely to agree to the seizure order, judicial
sources said.
Therefore, diplomacy would have to come into the picture,
they said.
The judge acquitted three Italian art experts accused of
using goods of illicit provenance because they included the
Goering pictures in a 2004 Bologna show entitled From carpaccio
to Canaletto, Treasures of Italian Art from the National Museum
of Belgrade.
photo: Tintoretto, Madonna and Child with Senator
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