For over eight decades, the whereabouts of Giuseppe Ghislandi’s Portrait of a Lady—a masterwork looted during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands—remained a mystery. That is, until an eagle-eyed observer spotted the painting, almost by accident, hanging above a green sofa in a real estate listing for a seaside property in Mar del Plata, Argentina. The discovery has set off a whirlwind of international intrigue, culminating in the painting’s recovery and the house arrest of its most recent owners.
According to BBC News, the painting, dating from 1710, was listed as missing for 80 years before it appeared in a photograph on an Argentinian estate agent’s website. The property belonged to Patricia Kadgien, the daughter of Friedrich Kadgien—a Nazi official who served as a top adviser to Hermann Göring, one of Adolf Hitler’s most notorious deputies. Göring was infamous for his role in plundering thousands of artworks from across Europe during World War II. Prosecutors revealed that the artwork was surrendered by the lawyer representing Ms. Kadgien after authorities failed to locate it during an initial raid on her home. Both Kadgien and her husband were placed under house arrest on September 1, 2025, and are expected to face charges of "concealment of theft in the context of genocide."
The painting’s journey from Amsterdam to Argentina is a story steeped in history and loss. As reported by CNN and Reuters, Portrait of a Lady was once part of the renowned Goudstikker Collection, which comprised over 1,100 works of art. Jacques Goudstikker, a Jewish art dealer based in Amsterdam, attempted to escape the Nazi invasion in 1940 but tragically died during his flight. His collection, meticulously inventoried and including works by Rembrandt and Vermeer, was confiscated and sold off at bargain prices to Göring and other high-ranking Nazis. The Ghislandi painting was sold by German banker Alois Miedl to Friedrich Kadgien, who later fled to Switzerland, then Brazil, and finally Argentina, where he died in Buenos Aires in 1978.
The painting’s reappearance was first reported by the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad (AD), which, with the help of retired sleuth Paul Post, traced the artwork to the Kadgien family’s living room. The Dutch National Agency for Cultural Heritage confirmed to AD, "There is no reason to think of why this could be a copy." Art historian Bram de Klerck described Ghislandi, also known as Fra’ Galgario, as "one of the most important portraitists in northern Italy of the late 17th and early 18th centuries." Ariel Bassano, the art expert who examined the painting, told La Capital Mar del Plata it was "in good condition for its age, as it dates from 1710" and valued it at "around $50,000."
After the painting was spotted online, the photo quickly vanished from the real estate listing, replaced by an image of a tapestry. According to BBC News, police found a large rug with horses and nature scenes hanging in the spot where the portrait had been displayed. The property itself was soon delisted from the agency’s portfolio. When authorities executed a search warrant, the painting was nowhere to be found, prompting additional raids at four other properties linked to Kadgien and her relatives. During these searches, officials uncovered more paintings and objects, some of which may also have been stolen during the war. These items are now under analysis to determine their provenance.
The legal implications of this case are significant. Argentine prosecutors, as reported by Reuters, are expected to charge Kadgien and her husband with "concealment of theft in the context of genocide"—a crime that, under international law, is not subject to a statute of limitations. The context of the original theft during the Nazi genocide ensures that justice can be pursued, no matter how much time has passed.
The Goudstikker family’s quest to recover lost art has spanned generations. Marei von Saher, Goudstikker’s daughter-in-law, told AD, "It is my family’s goal to find every work of art stolen from the Goudstikker collection, and to restore Jacques’ legacy." The Goudstikker Art Research Project manages these restitution claims, and their efforts have borne fruit in recent years. In 2023, a painting attributed to Cornelis van Haarlem was restituted after being offered for donation to France’s Musée Rolin. The year before, the German city of Trier returned a 17th-century Dutch painting by Adam van Breen following a legal claim. In 2017, von Saher secured the return of an Anthony van Dyck portrait from German company Dr. Oetker. Not all attempts have succeeded, though; in 2018, von Saher lost a protracted legal battle to reclaim two Lucas Cranach the Elder paintings from the Norton Simon Museum in California.
The broader context of Nazi-looted art in Argentina is a dark chapter in the country’s history. After World War II, Argentina became a haven for many fleeing Nazi officials, who brought with them not only gold and cash but also countless stolen artworks. Under the government of Juan Domingo Perón, these fugitives were able to settle and integrate, sometimes hiding their ill-gotten treasures in plain sight. The Kadgien family’s story is emblematic of this legacy.
Neighbors described Patricia Kadgien as a quiet presence who taught yoga classes in her garage, according to La Nacion. The revelation of her family’s connection to looted art has shocked the local community. Meanwhile, the recovered Ghislandi portrait is now in the custody of Argentine authorities. Prosecutor Daniel Adler explained to the press, "We’re doing this simply so that the community to whom we partly owe the discovery of the work ... can see these images." He credited journalists and community members for prompting the investigation that led to the painting’s recovery.
As for the fate of the painting, officials have not yet announced where it will be housed or whether it will be returned to the Goudstikker family. What’s clear is that this dramatic case has reignited public interest in the ongoing efforts to track down and reclaim art stolen during one of history’s darkest periods. The story of Portrait of a Lady serves as a poignant reminder that, even after 80 years, the pursuit of justice and restitution continues—one painting at a time.