Stolen Nazi Artwork Recovered After 80 Years

Authorities in Argentina have recovered an 18th-century painting stolen by the Nazis over 80 years ago. The long-lost “Portrait of a Lady (Contessa Colleoni)” by Italian master Giuseppe Ghislandi was handed over to the Argentinian judiciary on Wednesday. The painting was looted from Dutch Jewish art dealer Jacques Goudstikker during World War II and was last seen in 1946.

The breakthrough in the case came when a reporter from the Dutch newspaper AD found the painting in an online real estate listing for a property in Mar del Plata, Argentina. The listing, which included a photo of the artwork hanging above a sofa in the living room, was published on August 25. The next day, federal prosecutor Carlos Martínez ordered a raid on the property, but the painting was no longer there. Instead, police seized two unlicensed firearms and two mobile phones.

Further investigation led to four additional raids, which uncovered two other paintings potentially dating back to the 19th century, along with several drawings and engravings. The judiciary is analyzing these works to determine if they were also looted during World War II.

Patricia Kadgien, the daughter of Friedrich Kadgien, a Nazi financier who fled to Argentina after the war, and her husband are currently under house arrest. They face charges of concealment and obstruction of justice, with a hearing scheduled for Thursday. Kadgien’s legal representatives declined to comment.

The painting is believed to have been taken by Friedrich Kadgien, who fled the Netherlands in 1946 and brought the artwork with him to Argentina. After Kadgien’s death in 1978, the painting remained in his family’s possession.

Goudstikker’s heirs plan to reclaim the painting, which was among over 1,000 works of art stolen by the Nazis from the art dealer. The recovery of the “Portrait of a Lady” marks a significant step in the ongoing effort to return Nazi-looted art to its rightful owners.