Argentina Recovers Nazi-Stolen Painting Spotted in Real Estate Photo
By Lucila Sigal and Juan Carlos Bustamante
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentine officials announced on Wednesday that they had recovered a painting stolen by the Nazis following a series of international efforts and raids. The recovery came after the portrait was spotted hanging on a wall in a real estate photo.
An official from the local prosecutor’s office in the coastal city of Mar del Plata stated that Argentina’s federal prosecutor would soon provide more details about the painting’s recovery. The painting, a portrait of Contessa Colleoni by Italian artist Giuseppe Ghislandi, is listed on a database of works of art stolen by the Nazis and has been missing for 80 years.
Argentine authorities raided a house in Mar del Plata last week after the painting was shown in a real estate listing. However, they were initially unable to locate the painting. Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad reported that the home in the real estate listing belonged to Patricia Kadgien, the daughter of Friedrich Kadgien, a senior official in Adolf Hitler’s government who moved to Argentina from Germany after World War Two. Friedrich Kadgien passed away in 1979.
A federal court ordered Patricia Kadgien and her husband to be placed under house arrest for 72 hours starting Monday. A judicial official told Reuters that they would be questioned on accusations of obstructing the investigation to locate the painting.
The portrait of Contessa Colleoni was among more than 1,000 works of art stolen by the Nazis from Amsterdam-based art dealer Jacques Goudstikker, who died in 1940. The recovery of this painting marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts to return stolen art to its rightful owners or descendants.
The international community has praised Argentina for its swift action and dedication to resolving this historical injustice. The painting’s recovery not only brings closure to the families of the original owners but also highlights the importance of international cooperation in the fight against cultural theft and the restitution of stolen art.
(Reporting by Lucila Sigal and Juan Bustamante, editing by Cassandra Garrison and Rosalba O’Brien)
