In a significant development involving art restitution, a portrait looted from a Jewish art dealer during the Nazi era is finally set to be returned to its rightful heir. This follows an Argentine court’s approval of an agreement that resolves a legal dispute, thereby ending a decades-long search for the artwork.
Resolution Reached: The Return of “Portrait of a Lady”
The portrait, known as “Portrait of a Lady,” was originally part of Jacques Goudstikker’s collection, a renowned Dutch-Jewish art dealer whose works were seized under pressure by Nazi officials after the German invasion of the Netherlands in 1940. This painting will be returned to Marei von Saher, Goudstikker’s sole surviving heir, following the agreement reached with Patricia Kadgien, daughter of a former Nazi official, and her husband, Juan Carlos Cortegoso.
The couple was charged last year with aggravated cover-up for concealing the 18th-century painting despite being aware of ongoing investigations. As per the deal, they will give up any claim to the work, avoid trial, and remain under court supervision for two years, during which they must make charitable contributions and keep the authorities updated on their whereabouts.
Tracing the Painting’s History
The portrait, long believed to be by Giuseppe Vittore Ghislandi, was recently attributed to Giacomo Antonio Melchiorre Ceruti by Argentina’s National Academy of Fine Arts. This revelation adds another layer to its storied past, which began when Nazi financial officer Friedrich Kadgien, who later fled to Argentina, acquired it. The painting was discovered through an online real estate listing, which led to a series of police raids before it was finally handed over by Kadgien’s lawyer.
Goudstikker, a leading figure in the European art world before the war, tragically died while escaping Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. His vast collection, including works by masters like Rembrandt and Vermeer, was largely sold to Hermann Göring, a top Nazi official. How Kadgien came into possession of the “Portrait of a Lady” remains unclear, as he died in Argentina in 1978 without facing charges.
Future of the Artwork
Von Saher, residing in Greenwich, Connecticut, has tirelessly worked to recover her family’s looted art. She has consented to the painting being displayed in Argentina before its final return. Meanwhile, Argentine authorities continue to investigate other artworks seized during raids on properties associated with Kadgien, suspecting they too might have been looted during the war.
