The world-famous Norwegian painter Edvard Munch had no children - or so everyone thought.
Until Janet Weber, a 72-year-old American nun, contacted Munch's family in Norway, people assumed that Munch never had any children. However, he did have a relationship with the famous violinist Eva Mudocci, and may even have had twins.
Weber is the daughter of one of Mudocci's twins, and now claims to be Munch's granddaughter, NRK reports.
Munch's relatives in Norway are happy to help solve the mystery, and have accepted to have their DNA tested to find out if Weber is in fact related to the famous painter.
"We are such a small family who is related to Munch. She may be even more closely related to him, so this is just fun," says Elisabeth Munch-Ellingsen, one of Munch's Norwegian heirs.
Munch-Ellingsen is not at all opposed to the DNA testing, but says that she would think it is sad if Munch fathered two children he never got to know.
However, even if the DNA testing shows that Weber is in fact Munch's grandchild, she will most likely not inherit anything form Munch. According to John Aasland, an expert in inheritance law.
"Norwegian law states that you can not claim inheritance from a person this long after he died," Aasland explains.
(NRK/Klar Tale)
Julie Ryland
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