[MSN] STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- A Swedish museum was accused this week of violating agreements on the return of art looted by the Nazis during World War II.

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Swedish museum, family dispute painting
Published: Feb. 2, 2008 at 6:13 PM

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- A Swedish museum was accused this week of
violating agreements on the return of art looted by the Nazis during World
War II.

"Blumengarten" or "The Flower Garden" was stolen from Otto Deutsch, a
German-Jewish businessman who left Germany in the late 1930s. A lawyer
representing Deutsch's heirs called on the Moderna Museet in Stockholm to
give up the painting, The Local reported.

"In every single similar case in the United States, Germany, France, Austria
and Canada they gave back Nazi looted art without conditions," David Rowland
said.

The museum bought the painting in 1967. The family had been told it
disappeared during wartime bombing.

Both sides claim to have made fair offers. Maria Morberg, a representative
for the museum, said that because the painting was purchased with public
funds it cannot be returned without some sort of compensation.

Rowland said the family has offered to reimburse the museum for the purchase
price or to let the Moderna buy the Nolde at a price below its current
market value.