Nazi trove in Munich contains unknown works by masters
Adolf Hitler is seen here inspecting an exhibition of paintings despised by the Nazis in 1935
Previously unknown artworks by masters among nearly 1,400 pieces found in a trove of Nazi-looted art in Munich, German officials say.
As slides of the paintings were shown at a news conference, an expert said the works had been seized from private individuals or institutions.
They include works by Renoir, Picasso, Chagall and Toulouse-Lautrec.
Prosecutors said the issue of ownership was still being clarified over the works, which were found last year.
The total value has been estimated at about 1bn euros (£846m; $1.35bn).
Reinhard Nemetz, head of the prosecutors' office in Augsburg, said that 121 framed and 1,258 unframed works had been seized in the flat of Cornelius Gurlitt in Munich.
It was not yet clear if any offence had been committed, he added, stressing that the legal position was extremely complex.
Art expert Meike Hoffmann said some of the works were dirty but they had not been damaged.
'Extraordinarily good'
Previously unregistered works by Marc Chagall, Otto Dix, Max Liebermann and Henri Matisse were found.
"When you stand before the works and see again these long-lost, missing works, that were believed destroyed, seeing them in quite good condition, it's an extraordinarily good feeling," Ms Hoffmann said.
"The pictures are of exceptional quality, and have very special value for art experts. Many works were unknown until now."
The paintings were found in March of last year after Mr Gurlitt was investigated for tax evasion.
They had reportedly been kept in darkened rooms, surrounded by clutter.
According to a report by Germany's Focus magazine, Mr Gurlitt, the reclusive son of an art dealer in Munich, would occasionally sell a picture when he needed money.
"We don't have any urgent suspicion of a crime that would justify an arrest," said Mr Nemetz, adding that the current whereabouts of Mr Gurlitt were unknown.
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