A
long-lost masterpiece, "Portrait of a Lady" by Baroque Italian artist Fra' Galgario, has resurfaced in Argentina after being seized by the Nazis over 80 years ago. The painting was spotted in a real estate listing during an investigation by Dutch newspaper The Algemeen Dagblad into missing pieces from the collection of art dealer Jacques Goudstikker. Goudstikker, who fled the Netherlands and helped other Jewish people escape the Nazi invasion, was forced to sell his 1,100-piece collection at a fraction of its value during WWII.

    Many works were later recovered in Germany and returned to the Rijkmuseum in Amsterdam, but one painting remained elusive: "Portrait of the Contessa Colleoni". It's believed to have fallen into the possession of high-ranking SS officer Friedrich Kadgien, who settled in Argentina after the war. Experts are now confident that a photo of the painting in a gilded frame, taken from a real estate listing, is authentic.

    Fra' Galgario was a successful portraitist active in Bergamo and Milan in the early 18th century, known for his dark intensity and refined portrayals of grand dress. The record price for one of his works is around $500,000. While it's difficult to estimate the value of this missing painting based on a single photo, art dealer Milo Dickinson suggests it could be worth around $100,000 if found in good condition.

    Following the discovery, the real estate listing was pulled from the market and Argentine police have teamed up with Interpol to locate the portrait before it disappears again.