Panel: Return Munch to heir

An Austrian advisory panel handling claims for items looted by the Nazis during World War II recommended Wednesday that a Vienna gallery return an Edvard Munch painting to the heir of its former owner, the granddaughter of the late composer Gustav Mahler.

The Austrian government is now expected to heed the recommendation and return the painting, titled “Summer Evening at the Beach,” to Marina Fistulari-Mahler, the Austria Press Agency reported. It is currently in possession of the Austrian Gallery Belvedere.