The U.S. government wants a federal judge to facilitate returning a painting stolen by the Nazis during World War II to the heirs of a renowned Jewish art collector.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman announced the effort Friday.

He wants to give back the 1639 painting by Salomon Koninck to the heirs of Jewish art collector Adolphe Schloss. The painting is titled “A Scholar Sharpening His Quill.”

Berman said the Old Master painting was stolen by the Nazis in France and taken to Adolf Hitler’s personal headquarters in Munich.

Authorities say the painting resurfaced in November 2017 when a Chilean art dealer tried to sell it through a New York-based auction house. The FBI seized it, but a court order is required to return it to the Schloss family.

(AP)