Heirs of former Nazi leader face house arrest over stolen painting

The federal judiciary ordered house arrest for 72 hours for Patricia Kadgien, daughter of former Nazi official Friedrich Kadgien,  and her husband. The couple will be summoned for questioning on charges of concealment, after being identified as the possessors of the painting "Portrait of a Lady," stolen by Third Reich forces during World War II.

The artwork, from the early 18th century and by the Italian Giuseppe Ghislandi, had been taken along with hundreds of pieces from the collection of Dutch art dealer Jacques Goudstikker. The investigation indicates that the painting was at Patricia Kadgien's residence, which was recently searched in the Parque Luro neighborhood.

Searches and pursuit of the artwork

The first police operation failed to locate the painting, although it allowed key evidence to be gathered for the investigation. Other searches were also confirmed at properties linked to the Kadgien family, including another property in Parque Luro, a house near the La Florida neighborhood, and a property at Santa Fe 1715, in the city center.

Prosecutor Carlos Martínez, in charge of the case, is moving forward with intelligence work and testimonies that support the house arrest and the upcoming summons for questioning. The couple proposes that the painting remain under judicial custody until it is determined who legitimately owns the artwork.

Ownership claim and historical background

Kadgien and her husband have also filed a civil claim before the provincial judiciary, alleging expiration of the original owner's rights and asserting their ownership of "Portrait of a Lady." In their formal statement, they confirm possession of the artwork and assert rights above those of Goudstikker's heirs.

The case reached the international press due to coverage by the Dutch media outlet AD,which investigated Kadgien's heirs in Mar del Plata, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The publication identified the painting in a real estate listing for the Parque Luro villa, which led to complaints before Interpol and the Revenue and Customs Control Agency (ARCA).

The investigation recalls the mass theft of artworks in the Netherlands during the Nazi occupation, a fact of great cultural impact that still has legal effects, since the crime was committed in a context of genocide, making it imprescriptible.