A restitution dispute over a painting allegedly looted by Nazi officials during World War Two has taken an unusual turn, with authentication questions centering on the absence of a cow in the composition.

The painting in question was reportedly plundered by high-ranking Nazi Hermann Goering during the war and was later discovered in the possession of descendants of a Dutch SS leader. A family is now seeking the return of the artwork, which they believe to be an original work by the renowned Flemish master Peter Paul Rubens.

However, art experts have raised questions about the painting's attribution to Rubens. According to specialist analysis, the work may be a copy rather than an original, with one key piece of evidence being the absence of Rubens' characteristic depiction of a urinating cow that appears in the authentic version of this composition.

The case highlights the ongoing complexities surrounding Nazi-era art looting and restitution efforts. Thousands of artworks were systematically plundered by Nazi officials during World War Two, and families continue to pursue legal claims for the return of stolen cultural property decades after the war's end.

Art authentication often relies on detailed comparative analysis of known works, and experts use various techniques to distinguish originals from copies or later reproductions. In this instance, the presence or absence of specific details in Rubens' original composition has become central to determining both the painting's authenticity and its rightful ownership.