Argentine couple to return Nazi-looted Portrait of a Lady to rightful owner

A late‑Baroque painting titled *Portrait of a Lady* has resurfaced after being missing for eight decades. The artwork, believed to have vanished during the turmoil of the 1940s, was identified in a set of photographs posted for the sale of a private residence on the outskirts of Buenos Aires.

Conservation specialists from the National Museum of Fine Arts in Argentina recognized the portrait while reviewing the online listing, noting its characteristic brushwork and provenance markers that match archival records. The house, built in the early 20th century, had been listed for sale with interior images that clearly displayed the canvas hanging above a fireplace. Preliminary analysis suggests the work may be attributed to a workshop associated with the Spanish Baroque master Juan de Valdés Leal, though formal authentication is pending. Local authorities have been notified, and the property’s current owners are cooperating with officials to determine legal ownership and the painting’s future disposition.

The discovery underscores the role of digital platforms in art recovery and initiates a process that could see the *Portrait of a Lady* returned to public view. Museum officials anticipate completing authentication and, if the legal claim is resolved, arranging for the painting’s exhibition or transfer to a cultural institution.