Stolen 18th-century masterpiece found in Argentina belonging to a Dutch collector.
Stolen Artwork Recovered After 7 Decades
A long-lost painting, stolen from a Dutch Jewish art collector during World War II, has been recovered after 7 decades. The painting, titled "Portrait of a Lady" by Giuseppe Ghislandi, was discovered in the home of Patricia Kadgien, the daughter of a senior SS officer who fled to Argentina after the war.
The painting was first identified last week by the Dutch newspaper AD. It was found hanging above a green sofa in Patricia Kadgien's living room. The discovery generated a flurry of excitement on both sides of the Atlantic.
Patricia Kadgien and her husband were placed under house arrest due to the disappearance of the painting. This followed several failed police searches for the portrait. Despite extensive police raids, no trace of the painting was found during these searches.
The painting, dating from 1710, was valued at around $50,000 by art expert Ariel Bassano. The police raids for the recovery of the painting were also unsuccessful.
The painting was originally stolen from Amsterdam art dealer Jacques Goudstikker by the Nazis during World War II. The disappearance of the painting occurred after it was identified. However, a week after it appeared in a property ad, the painting was recovered.
Patricia Kadgien's father, SS financial appraiser Friedrich Kadgien, also fled to Argentina after the war. He was suspected of being involved in the discovery and subsequent disappearance of the painting by Argentine authorities.
Despite these suspicions, the painting was returned by the woman's lawyer. However, the painting disappeared again after it was identified. The police searches for the painting were unsuccessful.
The recovery of the painting "Portrait of a Lady" is a significant step towards returning stolen art to its rightful owners. The painting's return brings a sense of closure to the long and tragic history of art theft during World War II.
