**Title:** Rare WWII Looted Portrait May Have Resurfaced in Argentina
**Meta Description:** A looted portrait by Italian master Giuseppe Vittore Ghislandi may have been found in Argentina after 80 years, prompting an investigation.
**URL Slug:** rare-wwii-looted-portrait-resurfaces-argentina
**Headline:** Rare Portrait by Italian Master Giuseppe Vittore Ghislandi May Have Resurfaced After 80 Years
In a remarkable turn of events, a portrait by renowned Italian artist Giuseppe Vittore Ghislandi, looted by the Nazis during World War II, may have reappeared after 80 years. The painting, titled “Portrait of a Lady,” was reportedly spotted in a property listing for a villa in Mar del Plata, Argentina, approximately 250 miles south of Buenos Aires. This discovery was made possible thanks to Dutch journalists who alerted Argentinian authorities.
On Tuesday, Argentinian police conducted a raid on the villa after the painting was identified in a listing. The 17th-century oil-on-canvas artwork was previously owned by Dutch Jewish art dealer Jacques Goudstikker, whose prominent Amsterdam gallery was seized by the Nazis in May 1940. The Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad, which has been investigating the activities of high-ranking Nazi official Friedrich Kadgien and the Jewish artifacts he pilfered, reported that the painting was visible in a room during a virtual tour of the property.
The villa is believed to belong to Kadgien’s descendants, and while the listing remained active late Tuesday, the image of the painting has since been removed. Federal prosecutor Carlos Martinez stated that the painting was not located during the police raid; however, officers confiscated other items that could aid the investigation, including weapons and period reproductions. Investigators are now looking into potential charges related to concealment and smuggling.
The official Dutch database of missing artworks from World War II, maintained by the Netherlands’ Cultural Heritage Agency, confirms that “Portrait of a Lady” originally belonged to Goudstikker. Following the Nazi takeover of his gallery, many of Goudstikker’s artworks were sold illegally to Hermann Goering, a prominent Nazi leader. The database indicates that the painting later came into the possession of Friedrich Kadgien, a Nazi party member who managed foreign currency and the sale of confiscated properties.
After the war, Kadgien fled to Switzerland and subsequently to Argentina, as detailed in a declassified CIA report. The ongoing investigation into the painting and its history highlights the broader issue of art theft during the Nazi regime and the efforts to recover stolen cultural heritage.
**FAQ Section:**
**Q: What is the significance of the painting “Portrait of a Lady”?**
A: “Portrait of a Lady,” painted by Giuseppe Vittore Ghislandi, is significant as it represents a piece of art looted during World War II, highlighting the ongoing efforts to recover stolen artworks and address historical injustices.
