©Hearst Castle/California State Parks

"Alvisuis Vendramin," school of Tintoretto

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A two-year investigation has concluded that three paintings in the castle — a picture of a man with a book and a shell necklace, possibly by Venetian artist Giovanni Cariani; a portrait of Venetian nobleman Alvisuis Vendramin, attributed to the school of Tintoretto; and a Venus and Cupid attributed to the school of Venetian artist Paris Bordone — are the rightful property of Rosa and Jakob Oppenheimer.

The Oppenheimers fled Nazi Germany for France in the 1930s, after being forced to sell their property. They were later killed in the Holocaust.

Publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst built the Hearst Castle estate from 1919 to 1947. He acquired the three paintings in question in 1935, not knowing their provenance.

Ownership of the castle and its collection were transferred to the state of California in 1972 by the Hearst Corporation. A lawyer for the Oppenheimer estate first contacted the state about the paintings in March 2007.

California will now return two of the three works to the Oppenheimer heirs, who have allowed the state to retain ownership of the Venus and Cupid painting. The work will remain at the castle, alongside photographic reproductions of the others.