Nazi-Looted Painting 'Portrait of a Lady' Discovered in Argentine Home

An 18th-century painting, "Portrait of a Lady" by Italian artist Giuseppe Vittore Ghislandi, stolen by the Nazis during World War II, has been identified in an Argentine residence. The artwork was part of the collection of Dutch-Jewish art dealer Jacques Goudstikker, whose extensive collection was seized following the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands in 1940. The painting resurfaced when Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad spotted it in a real estate listing for a villa in Mar del Plata, Argentina, believed to be owned by descendants of Friedrich Kadgien, a Nazi fugitive who fled to Argentina after the war.

Argentine authorities have initiated an investigation into the painting's provenance. Federal prosecutor Carlos Martínez stated that while the painting was not found during a recent raid on the property, other items were seized that could aid the investigation. The Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands has expressed confidence in the painting's authenticity but awaits physical examination for confirmation. Marei von Saher, Goudstikker's daughter-in-law and sole heir, intends to pursue a formal restitution claim to recover the artwork.

This case highlights the ongoing efforts to recover art looted during World War II and the complex legal and ethical challenges involved in restitution.