A California woman is about to benefit from the decision of an Austrian arbitration panel. Who is this woman, what will she get out of the ruling, and what does actor John Malkovich have to do with any of this?

Stew54

The Californian lady is Maria Altmann of Beverley Hills who has succeeded this week in her claim to ownership of some looted Nazi paintings by Klimt. She and the Austrian government had both claimed them and had agreed to put the dispute to a panel of adjudicators who found in her favour. Malkovich plays Klimt in a new film of that name. Jan 17 06, 5:48 PM

lanfranco

Lovely, Stew. Maria Altmann is the only surviving niece of Ferdinand and Adele Bloch-Bauer, Jewish patrons of Gustav Klimt. She sued for possession of 6 Klimt paintings, including a very famous one of Adele. I offer a site for that beautiful work below. Ms. Altmann has stated that she doesn't necessarily want the paintings to leave Austria; she is willing to accept financial restitution. The film "Klimt," in which Malkovich plays the title role, has just been released: http://www.artchive.com/artchive/K/klimt/klimt_bloch-bauer1.jpg.html Jan 17 06, 6:06 PM