Nazi-Looted Masterpiece Resurfaces In Argentina Real Estate Listing

More than eighty years after being taken by the Nazis, a Baroque portrait titled Portrait of a Lady (Contessa Colleoni) by Italian painter Giuseppe Vittore Ghislandi, also known as Fra Galgario, has resurfaced in a surprising way.

The artwork, once owned by Jewish art dealer Jacques Goudstikker in Amsterdam, was spotted in an online advertisement for a seaside villa near Buenos Aires. The painting was seen hanging above a sofa in the property’s living room, drawing attention from experts who monitor missing art from the Second World War era.

Further investigation linked the painting to the family of Friedrich Kadgien, a senior Nazi official and aide to Hermann Göring, who escaped to Argentina after the war. While art specialists confirmed that the painting’s colors, dimensions, and composition match historical records, they stress that only a physical inspection can determine its authenticity.

The heirs of Goudstikker, led by Marei von Saher, are determined to reclaim the painting. Von Saher had previously succeeded in recovering over 200 other works from the looted collection in 2006, though this particular portrait was not included at the time.

Argentine police have since raided the villa where the painting was photographed. Although the artwork itself was not found during the search, investigators seized other potentially valuable items, such as old engravings and reproductions. Authorities are now exploring possible charges, including concealment and smuggling.

This unusual discovery has reignited the long-running pursuit of looted cultural treasures, while also highlighting Argentina’s post-war history as a refuge for former Nazi officials.