Argentine authorities have charged Patricia Kadgien, daughter of fugitive Nazi officer Friedrich Kadgien, with obstructing justice by concealing an 18th-century painting, "Portrait of a Lady" by Giuseppe Ghislandi, stolen from a Jewish art dealer during World War II. The charges, announced on September 4, 2025, also implicate Kadgien’s husband, Juan Carlos Cortegoso, for their alleged efforts to hide the artwork after its discovery in a real estate listing.
The painting, part of the collection of Dutch-Jewish art dealer Jacques Goudstikker, was confiscated by Nazis after Goudstikker’s death in a 1940 shipwreck while fleeing German forces. His collection, including works by Rembrandt and Vermeer, was sold under duress at a fraction of its value. Over 1,100 pieces from his gallery remain unrecovered. Marei von Saher, Goudstikker’s heir, has filed a legal claim with the FBI’s New York office to reclaim the painting.
The case began when Dutch journalists, investigating Friedrich Kadgien’s life in Argentina—where he sought refuge after the Third Reich’s collapse—identified "Portrait of a Lady" in an online real estate ad for Kadgien’s Mar del Plata home. The advertisement, posted in February 2025, featured a 3D tour showing the painting above a green velvet couch. An August 25 exposé by Algemeen Dagblad prompted Interpol to alert Argentine authorities, who raided Kadgien’s properties. Though other artworks and firearms were seized, the Ghislandi painting was missing, with scuff marks and a tapestry found where it had been displayed.
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Prosecutor Carlos Martínez stated that Kadgien and Cortegoso, aware of the painting’s significance, actively concealed it as media and police scrutiny intensified. Security footage showed the removal of a “for sale” sign from their property. After multiple raids, Kadgien surrendered the painting to the judiciary on September 3, 2025. The couple, previously under house arrest, was released with travel restrictions and an obligation to report address changes.
The painting’s fate remains undecided, with the Argentine court ordering its display at the Buenos Aires Holocaust Museum pending further rulings. A request by Kadgien’s lawyer to auction the artwork was denied due to its contested provenance. The case highlights ongoing global efforts to recover Nazi-looted art and underscores Argentina’s historical role as a haven for Nazi fugitives.
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