Rubens paintings and others to be handed over to the church

The government has agreed to return a number of precious art pieces that are currently in the possession of the National Gallery to the different Catholic orders as part of the church property restitution settlement. Prime Minister Jiří Rusnok said on Czech Television on Wednesday evening that the Cistercian Order will receive nine wooden panels by the anonymous Master of Vyšší Brod from the mid 14th century, while two paintings by Peter Paul Rubens will newly belong to the Augustinians. All of the artworks will remain on display at the various National Gallery locations, but will officially be considered as free loans from the respective church orders.