Police in Argentina recovers an Italian painting suspected to be looted by Nazis, discovered in a real estate listing.
In a significant development, the painting "Portrait of a Lady" by Giuseppe Ghislandi, which was stolen from Amsterdam art dealer Jacques Goudstikker's collection during World War II, has been recovered in Argentina.
The painting, initially among over 1,000 artworks taken from Goudstikker's collection, was recognized last week by a Dutch newspaper as being from the collection of the prominent art dealer. Goudstikker, a leading dealer of Italian and Dutch 16th- and 17th-century masters, fled the Netherlands days after the Nazi invasion.
The painting was missing for 80 years and was photographed hanging in the home of Patricia Kadgien, the daughter of a senior SS officer who fled to Argentina after World War II. Kadgien and her husband admitted in a court filing that they owned the artwork and believed any lawsuit over its ownership would fall under the statute of limitations.
Dutch journalist Peter Schouten visited Kadgien's home to investigate her father's past. Schouten noticed a for-sale sign and found the painting in a photo of the house's interior online. However, the for-sale listing was removed from the property site shortly afterwards.
Kadgien and her husband were placed under house arrest on Tuesday after several failed police searches for the portrait. Despite reaching out to Kadgien for her version of events, Schouten received no response.
Art expert Ariel Bassano confirmed the painting's good condition and estimated its value at around $50,000. The discovery of the painting generated excitement on both sides of the Atlantic.
It's worth noting that after the war, the Dutch state retrieved some 300 works from Goudstikker's collection, but many others remain scattered around the globe. The recovery of the painting "Portrait of a Lady" serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to reunite stolen artworks with their rightful owners.
Prosecutors announced the recovery of the painting on Wednesday after a major search. This recovery is a testament to the power of investigative journalism and the relentless pursuit of justice. The painting's return to its rightful owners is eagerly anticipated.
