Nazi-Looted Painting 'Portrait of a Lady' to be Returned to Heir After Court Ruling

A significant late-baroque painting, known as ‘Portrait of a Lady’ and attributed to Giuseppe Ghislandi, is set to be returned to its rightful heirs.

The artwork was stolen by the Nazis during their invasion of the Netherlands in 1940, forming part of over a thousand pieces looted from the collection of Jewish art dealer Jacques Goudstikker.

For eight decades, the painting remained lost until it was spotted in photographs on a real estate website advertising a house for sale near Buenos Aires. The property belonged to Patricia Kadgien, the daughter of a high-ranking Nazi official.

Following the discovery, Kadgien and her husband were charged with concealment and placed under house arrest. However, a recent court hearing in Mar del Plata saw criminal proceedings against the couple suspended.

Under the agreement, Kadgien and her husband will relinquish all claims to the ‘Portrait of a Lady’ and are required to donate 4.8 million pesos (approximately £2,356) to local hospitals. This deal allows them to avoid further prosecution for holding the stolen art.

Marei von Saher, Goudstikker’s daughter-in-law and sole heir, expressed her family’s commitment to recovering all stolen artworks and restoring Jacques Goudstikker’s legacy. She plans to temporarily exhibit the painting at the Holocaust Museum of Buenos Aires to raise awareness about art restitution.

Experts continue to debate the precise attribution of the painting, with some scholars suggesting it might be the work of Giacomo Ceruti, another Italian artist from the same period. The painting is also sometimes referred to as ‘Contessa Colleoni’.

Source: Nile Post