An 18th-century painting, taken by the Nazis over 80 years ago, has been surprisingly located after showing up in real estate photos from Argentine properties.
The portrait of Contessa Koreoni, created by Italian artist Giuseppe Gislandi, had been unseen in public since it was stolen in 1940 by Jacques Gordsicker, a Jewish art collector based in Amsterdam.
Everything changed when an online real estate listing popped up in Mar del Plata.
This revelation came last month while the daughter of Nazi official Friedrich Kazien was selling her villa.
Dutch reporters, known for their sharp eyes, alerted the authorities after spotting the artwork while they were investigating Kazien’s ties to Argentina.
Kadien held a significant position under Adolf Hitler’s regime and fled to South America post-World War II, passing away in 1979.
Last week, Argentine police raided the villa, now owned by Kazien’s daughter, Patricia Kazien, and her husband, but they couldn’t immediately locate the painting.
“There were indications that the painting might be in this residence,” said Argentine federal prosecutor Carlos Martinez after the raid.
“Although the paintings were not found, we did seize some documents related to sculptures and drawings that could provide context.”
Martinez further noted that two individuals are under investigation concerning the painting’s possession.
Later, the couple’s lawyers turned the iconic artwork over to the prosecutor’s office.
Patricia Kazien and her husband were placed under house arrest earlier this week while authorities look into whether the investigation into the painting’s recovery was obstructed.
It’s unclear what charges, if any, they might face.
