Argentina Recovers Nazi-Looted 'Portrait of a Lady' After 80 Years

An 18th-century painting by Italian artist Giuseppe Ghislandi, stolen by the Nazis during World War II, has been recovered in Argentina after 80 years. The artwork, titled "Portrait of a Lady," resurfaced when it appeared in an online real estate listing for a property in Mar del Plata.

The painting was originally owned by Dutch-Jewish art dealer Jacques Goudstikker, who fled the Netherlands in 1940 ahead of the German invasion. His extensive collection was forcibly sold to Hermann Göring, a leading Nazi official. Goudstikker's heirs have been seeking to recover approximately 1,100 missing artworks from his collection.

The real estate listing that led to the painting's discovery was posted by the daughter of Friedrich Kadgien, a former Nazi officer who fled to Argentina after the war. Authorities conducted multiple raids on properties linked to the Kadgien family in Mar del Plata, seizing the painting and other artworks suspected of being looted during the 1940s. Patricia Kadgien and her husband have been placed under house arrest pending further investigation.

Federal prosecutor Daniel Adler acknowledged the role of the community in the painting's recovery, stating, "It was people from the community, specifically journalists, who prompted the investigation." The painting is currently stored in a special chamber for safekeeping. Art expert Ariel Bassano noted that it is in good condition given its age, dating it to 1710 and valuing it at approximately $50,000.