Historic Art Recovery: Argentine Court Orders Return of Looted Masterpiece to Jewish Heirs
By Editor • September 7, 2026 • 1 min read
An Argentine federal court has made a significant ruling, mandating the return of the painting Portrait of a Lady to the heirs of Jacques Goudstikker, a Dutch Jewish art dealer whose collection was looted by the Nazis nearly 90 years ago.
The ruling, delivered on Friday by federal judge Santiago Inchausti, followed a hearing involving prosecutors and the legal representatives of Goudstikker's family. The painting, which was discovered last year in a house in Mar del Plata, approximately 400 kilometers from Buenos Aires, is believed to have been stolen during the Holocaust.
Legal Proceedings and Agreements
The couple in possession of the painting, Patricia Kadgien and her husband Juan Carlos Cortegoso, initially claimed legitimate ownership through inheritance. However, they eventually reached an agreement with prosecutors to avoid trial, relinquishing any claim to the artwork. As part of this deal, they agreed to donate 4.8 million pesos (around $3,200) to support a maternal and child hospital.
Background of the Painting and its Recovery
The painting's journey back to its rightful owners began with a property listing that caught the attention of Dutch journalist Peter Schouten in August 2025. Upon discovering the painting hanging in the living room during his search, authorities detained Kadgien and Cortegoso for 72 hours until they surrendered the artwork. Art analysis confirmed that the piece, initially attributed to Giuseppe Ghislandi, is actually the work of 18th-century Italian artist Giacomo Ceruti, with a market value estimated at €250,000.
Marei von Saher, Goudstikker's daughter-in-law, is set to receive the painting. She has dedicated years to tracing the whereabouts of her late husband’s family collection, which included over 1,100 works. While she seeks no revenge or financial compensation for the past, her goal is to have the painting exhibited in a Buenos Aires museum before its final return.
Source: en.mercopress.com
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