Law & Justice
Nazi-looted painting in Argentina to return to heir
An Argentine judge has said an 18th-century painting stolen by Nazis from Dutch Jewish art collector Jacques Goudstikker will be returned to his heir after an agreement between the parties.
Judge Santiago Inchausti said an order would be issued for "Portrait of a Lady" to be returned to Marei von Saher, Goudstikker's daughter-in-law and sole heir.
The painting had been missing for eight decades before it was photographed last year in the Mar del Plata home of Patricia Kadgien, the daughter of Friedrich Kadgien, a financier for the Nazi SS paramilitary organisation who fled to Argentina after World War II. Dutch newspaper AD first recognised the painting in photographs of a house for sale in the seaside resort city.
Patricia Kadgien and her husband were charged with concealment and placed under house arrest after the artwork was identified. They agreed to return the painting to Von Saher and give about $3,200 to local hospitals.
Federal prosecutor Carlos Martinez told AFP that the people under investigation had committed themselves to renouncing any rights over the painting. He said the work is in good condition and that expert examinations confirmed its authenticity.
Argentina's government said the painting is by Italian late baroque painter Giacomo Ceruti, known as Il Pitocchetto, and not the portraitist Giuseppe Ghislandi as initially reported.
"Portrait of a Lady" was among more than 1,000 artworks stolen from Goudstikker's collection after the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands in 1940. Goudstikker fled the country days after the invasion, leaving behind works that were divided among senior German officials.
After World War II, the Dutch state recovered about 300 works from the collection, most of which were later returned to Goudstikker's heirs. Other works remain scattered around the world.
The painting is currently under the care of Argentina's Supreme Court, and Von Saher's legal team must now initiate its return. Her lawyer, Guillermo Brady, told AFP that the family intends for the painting to be exhibited in Buenos Aires for at least a year and is in talks with several museums.
Update
Marei von Saher's legal team must now initiate the return of the painting.
Von Saher intends to display the painting in Argentina to give visibility to Jacques Goudstikker's story.
Her lawyer said the family wants the painting exhibited in Buenos Aires for at least a year and is in talks with several museums.
Source note: AFP news report published on 5 September 2026 at 13:11:26 UTC.
Update
Argentina's government said the painting is by Italian late baroque painter Giacomo Ceruti, known as Il Pitocchetto, and not Giuseppe Ghislandi as initially reported.
Source note: AFP news report published on 5 September 2026 at 12:53:07 UTC.
Update
Federal prosecutor Carlos Martinez said expert examinations confirmed the painting's authenticity and that it is in good condition.
The painting is currently under the care of Argentina's Supreme Court.
Marei von Saher's legal team must initiate the process for the painting's return.
Von Saher intends for the painting to be exhibited in Argentina, with her lawyer saying the family wants it shown in Buenos Aires for at least a year and is in talks with museums.
Source note: AFP news report published on 4 September 2026 at 17:04:16 UTC.
Update
Judge Santiago Inchausti said an order would be issued to return the painting to Marei von Saher, the sole heir of Jacques Goudstikker.
The painting was identified after Dutch newspaper AD recognized it in photographs of a Mar del Plata house for sale.
Patricia Kadgien and her husband were charged with concealment and placed under house arrest after the artwork was identified.
The couple agreed to return the painting and give about $3,200 to local hospitals.
The painting was among more than 1,000 works stolen from Goudstikker's collection after the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands in 1940.
Source note: AFP news report published on 4 September 2026 at 15:50:13 UTC.
Update
The painting is "Portrait of a Lady" by Italian baroque painter Giuseppe Ghislandi.
The work had been missing for eight decades.
It was photographed last year in the home of the daughter of a senior SS officer who had fled to Argentina after World War II.
Source note: AFP news report published on 4 September 2026 at 15:00:29 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The exact timing of the painting's return was not specified.
Details of the planned Buenos Aires exhibition have not been finalised.
Source
AFP news report published on .