Police in Argentina has recovered an 18th-century painting stolen by the Nazis from a Dutch Jewish art dealer during World War II that re-emerged in an online real estate listing.
The Guardian reports the long-lost “Portrait of a Lady” by Giuseppe Ghislandi was handed over by Patricia Kadgien, the daughter of the late Nazi financier Friedrich Kadgien who absconded to Argentina with the painting in the war’s aftermath. Kadgien, who initially tried to retain the work after it was found in her possession, is under house arrest with her husband. The couple face charges of concealment and obstruction of justice, and they may face additional charges following police raids uncovered two other paintings along with drawings and engravings that might also be Nazi-looted works.
“Portrait of a Lady” was part of the collection looted from Jacques Goudstikker during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Since the end of the war, the painting was on an international list of lost art and the official Dutch government’s list of Nazi-looted artworks.
Last month, the long-lost painting was seen in the interior of Kadgien’s Buenos Aires home. Goudstikker’s heirs announced plans to reclaim the painting.
Hooray for justice! The Argentine couple shouldn’t be prosecuted if they were unaware of the paintings origins. Prosecution on intent to hide or conceal the fact of its lineage may be impossible to determine. Now, if there is amble evidence that they were in full awareness of the paintings trail into their possession then there is cause for war crimes. I’m just glad that the family will have it back for the heirs. It still doesn’t satisfy the years of it being stolen either. I’m not sure what more can be done besides at least a public apology from the Kadgien family to the Goudstikker family for their fathers ill will.
Ill will is a bit of an understatement. The Nazis stole, looted, killed and escaped to sanctuary cities, like Buenos Aires, where they lived out their lives in luxury, living on the blood of a people they wanted eradicated from the earth.
Shame on this family for trying to keep these works, even when they were “outed!”
Finally!!!!
I’m thrilled to hear of the return of the painting
to its rightful owners/heirs. Justice, better
late than never. These criminals have at last
had karma, and ifs determined that the family
holding the artwork knew if it’s STOLEN
background, they should be held accountable as well . THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORTING!!