Argentine court clears return of Nazi-looted portrait worth $400k

A long-lost Italian portrait called "Portrait of a Lady" has been ordered to be returned to its rightful owner's heir after being stolen by the Nazis during World War II. The painting was looted from Dutch Jewish art dealer Jacques Goudstikker, whose collection included over 1,100 artworks. It had been missing for 80 years until it was recognized in a house in the seaside resort of Mar del Plata, Argentina, last year. The daughter of a fugitive Nazi official, Patricia Kadgien, and her husband were charged with concealment after authorities discovered they had hidden the painting despite knowing it was being sought by investigators. As part of an agreement, they will give up any claim to the work and return it to Marei von Saher, Goudstikker's sole surviving heir, in exchange for avoiding a criminal trial and spending two years under court supervision. They must also make payments to a hospital in Argentina during this time. Von Saher plans to exhibit the painting on loan at the Holocaust Museum of Buenos Aires to raise awareness about the issue.