Argentine prosecutors announced on September 3, 2025, that they recovered a 17th‑century portrait by Italian painter Giuseppe Ghislandi in Mar del Plata; the work, long linked to art dealer Jacques Goudstikker and believed taken by Nazi forces during World War II, was turned over during an investigation that left two people detained and facing charges.
Key Takeaways
- The recovered work is “Portrait of a Lady” by Giuseppe Ghislandi, dated to the 17th century.
- Argentine authorities say the painting was allegedly looted from Jewish dealer Jacques Goudstikker after a Nazi raid in May 1940.
- The Mar del Plata Prosecutor’s Office reports the piece was handed over by lawyers for two people who have been detained.
- Investigators carried out multiple raids in Mar del Plata and placed a descendant of Nazi official Friedrich Kadgien and her partner under house arrest.
- Officials involved in the announcement included Federal Attorney General Daniel Adler, Assistant Prosecutor Carlos Martinez and curator Ariel Bassano.
- Archives in the Netherlands show the work later surfaced in the possession of Friedrich Kadgien, who died in Buenos Aires in 1978.
- The Goudstikker family has been seeking restitution of works stolen more than 80 years ago.
Verified Facts
The Mar del Plata Prosecutor’s Office said the portrait was formally handed to investigators on Wednesday by legal counsel representing two people who were detained earlier in the week. Authorities reported raids at four locations in the city and moved two suspects to house arrest pending a formal judicial hearing.
Local prosecutors identified one suspect as a descendant of Friedrich Kadgien, described in archival records as a Nazi official who fled to Argentina after the war. Records consulted by investigators in the Netherlands indicate the painting belonged to Jacques Goudstikker and was taken during the Nazi occupation; later documentation places the work in Kadgien’s possession.
Officials named in the public announcement were Federal Attorney General Daniel Adler, Assistant Prosecutor Carlos Martinez and curator Ariel Bassano, who participated in the transfer and verification of the work. The office said a formal hearing for the detained individuals was scheduled for Thursday.
Public records show Kadgien died in Buenos Aires in 1978. The Goudstikker family continues efforts to recover items looted from the dealer’s gallery in May 1940, and prosecutors say this recovery is part of that broader investigation.
Context & Impact
Systematic looting of art by Nazi forces during World War II displaced thousands of works, many of which resurfaced in private collections or changed hands abroad in the decades after the war. Argentina was a notable refuge for some Nazi officials seeking to evade prosecution.
The return of this portrait highlights ongoing international restitution work and could add momentum to other claims tied to the Goudstikker estate. Legal proceedings now will aim to clarify ownership, the chain of custody and any criminal liability for those implicated in holding or transferring the painting.
If courts confirm illicit transfer, the work may be restituted to Goudstikker heirs or held while ownership disputes are resolved. The case may also prompt renewed archival searches and cooperation between Argentine authorities and Dutch provenance researchers.
Official Statements
The Mar del Plata Prosecutor’s Office said the painting was delivered to investigators by the suspects’ lawyer and confirmed steps are underway to verify provenance and proceed with judicial measures.
Mar del Plata Prosecutor’s Office / Argentine officials
Unconfirmed
- Precise details of how the painting moved from Europe to Argentina before it appeared in Kadgien’s possession remain under investigation.
- Whether the detained individuals knowingly possessed an artwork with a Nazi‑era provenance has not been legally established.
- Any final restitution outcome or timeline for return to the Goudstikker family is not yet determined.
Bottom Line
The recovery in Mar del Plata of a 17th‑century Ghislandi portrait tied to Jacques Goudstikker underscores the long reach of World War II restitution efforts and the continuing role of cross‑border investigations. The coming judicial hearings and provenance reviews will be central to determining the painting’s legal fate and whether it will be returned to Goudstikker heirs.