Italy’s Bill 2834: A Pathway Toward Restituting Jewish-Owned Art

Nicholas Gemini, Palazzo Montecitorio, photograph, 2019

By Hannah Gadway

The Italian Parliament has made waves for proposing Bill 2834, a piece of legislation focused on the “regulation of the procedures for the restitution of works of art stolen or sold due to racial persecution.”^[1] The law would create a formal process through which the Italian government could return Jewish-owned art and cultural property taken by the Nazi and Italian Fascist regimes between 1933 and 1945. This article examines Bill 2834’s significance in light of Italy’s historical relationship with Jewish restitutions.

Restitution of Jewish-Owned Art in Italy: A Brief Overview