A
painting lost for over 80 years has been rediscovered in an Argentine real estate listing. The work, "Portrait of a Lady" by Fra' Galgario, was once owned by Dutch art dealer Jacques Goudstikker before being looted by the Nazis during World War II. Goudstikker's collection was sold to Nazi officers, including Friedrich Kadgien, who fled to Argentina with the painting and other stolen artworks.

    Galgario's work is highly regarded, with pieces displayed in museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Pinacoteca di Brera. The painting had been in Goudstikker's possession since at least 1939, when he was forced to leave his collections behind as the Nazis occupied Amsterdam. Goudstikker's daughter-in-law, Marei von Saher, has been working to recover many of the stolen artworks, including 202 paintings returned to her in 2006.

    Kadgien's involvement with the Nazi regime is well-documented, and he was known for his role in acquiring assets from Jewish victims. He fled to Argentina with his family and built a new life, but his past remained shrouded until now. The discovery of "Portrait of a Lady" has sparked efforts to return the painting to Goudstikker's estate, with von Saher stating that her family aims to recover every artwork stolen from Jacques' collection.

    The rediscovery of the painting was made possible by a single photo in an online real estate listing, which caught the attention of Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad. Further investigation revealed another looted work, a floral still-life by Abraham Mignon, also owned by Kadgien's family. The descendants of Kadgien have been contacted regarding the artworks, but so far, they have shown no interest in returning them to their rightful owners.