Minneapolis—The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) will display an 1847 watercolor miniature that was stolen from a Jewish family during the Nazi era and returned 86 years later to the family’s descendants. Jackie Sondell, the great-niece and heir of the watercolor’s original owner, has generously lent the work to Mia so it can be presented in the Judaica gallery (362) from November 3, 2026, through May 3, 2027.

The portrait, created by Austrian artist Albert Theer in 1847, depicts Carl Graf Gleispach, an officer in the Austrian Empire’s army. The work belonged to Eduard Epstein, a Jewish Viennese textile merchant and art collector, whose property was targeted following Nazi Germany’s annexation of Austria in 1938. In 2013, the watercolor was found in the collection of Vienna’s Museum of Military History.

In August 2026, Austrian Deputy Consul General Johannes Gassner personally returned the painting to Sondell, Epstein’s great-niece and heir, during a ceremony in Minnesota. For Sondell, the watercolor is more than an artwork. It’s a tangible connection to her family and to a relative who was persecuted by the Nazi regime and dispossessed of his property.

Three of Sondell’s grandparents were killed in the Holocaust, and she’s spoken publicly about the importance of remembering the individual people and families behind the history.

By making the watercolor available for public view, Sondell hopes the story of its theft and subsequent return can reach beyond her family and encourage others to learn about the Holocaust, restitution, and the enduring impact of Nazi persecution.

“The restitution of the Theer watercolor cannot undo the grievous harm done to the Epstein family and so many others, but it is a meaningful acknowledgment of Austria’s historical responsibility during Nazi occupation and annexation,” said Galina Olmsted, Mia’s Associate Curator of European Art. “We are so grateful to Jackie and her family for sharing this treasured heirloom and story with our visitors, and we are honored to present this important story of restitution and historical reckoning.”

Measuring just 3 inches by 2 inches, the miniature demonstrates how even a small object can carry an expansive history. It connects art, individual lives, Nazi persecution, provenance research, and the ongoing work of restitution.

The painting was returned through Austria’s restitution process following extensive provenance research.

The watercolor miniature by Albert Theer will be on view in Mia’s Judaica gallery (362) from November 3, 2026 through May 3, 2027.

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Home to more than 100,000 works of art representing 5,000 years of world history, the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) inspires wonder, spurs creativity, and nourishes the imagination. With extraordinary exhibitions and one of the finest art collections in the country—from all corners of the globe, from ancient to contemporary—Mia links the past to the present, enables global conversations, and offers an exceptional setting for inspiration. Learn more about Mia in our latest Impact Report.

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