Discovery of Nazi-Stolen Painting in Descendants' Home
An artwork taken from a Jewish art collector by the Nazis during World War II has been located in the residence of descendants of a prominent Dutch SS collaborator, according to art detective Arthur Brand.
The painting, Portrait of a Young Girl by Dutch artist Toon Kelder, is believed to have been displayed for decades in the home of Hendrik Seyffardt's family. Brand later confirmed that the painting was handed over to his team.
The artwork originally belonged to Jacques Goudstikker, a Jewish art dealer who died while fleeing the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands, leaving behind a collection exceeding 1,000 paintings.
Family Connection and Revelation
The case came to Brand’s attention when a man, a descendant of Seyffardt, expressed disgust upon discovering that his family had retained the painting for years.
Hendrik Seyffardt was a Dutch general who commanded a Waffen-SS volunteer unit on the Eastern Front before being assassinated by resistance fighters in 1943.
After learning of his relation to Seyffardt, the man approached his grandmother to inquire about the painting’s history. She reportedly told him it had been purchased during World War II and was "Jewish looted art, stolen from [art dealer Jacques] Goudstikker. It is unsellable. Don't tell anyone."
The family, which changed its name after the war, acknowledged possessing the painting but denied awareness of its true provenance, according to a statement given to Dutch media.
Following the discovery, the family member contacted Brand through an intermediary, believing publicizing the story was the only way to facilitate the painting’s return.
I feel ashamed. The painting should be returned to the heirs of Goudstikker.
In a statement to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, the grandmother said:
I received it from my mother.
Now that you confront me like this, I understand that Goudstikker's heirs want the painting back. I didn't know that.
Investigation and Provenance Verification
Upon being informed of the painting’s existence, Brand initiated his own investigation. He found a label on the back of the painting and the number 92 etched into its frame.
Brand then examined the archives of a 1940 auction where much of Goudstikker’s looted collection was sold and identified an item listed as number 92 titled Portrait of a Young Girl by Toon Kelder.
Brand believes the painting was plundered by Hermann Goering, a leading Nazi Party figure, when Goudstikker fled to Britain in 1940. It was subsequently sold to Seyffardt at auction and passed down to his descendant.
After commencing his investigation, Brand contacted the lawyers representing Goudstikker’s heirs, who confirmed that the collector had previously owned six paintings by Toon Kelder. They also verified that these paintings were included in the 1940 auction where Brand believes Portrait of a Young Girl was sold.
Significance and Legal Considerations
Brand described the discovery as "stunning" and "the most bizarre case of my entire career." He noted that if the painting were sold, it could command a significant price.
Such paintings could been sold anywhere between thousands and tens of thousands.
However, the sale of looted art is generally illegal in most countries because such works are considered sold under duress. Despite this, Portrait of a Young Girl might be sold due to the statute of limitations on its theft having expired.
Brand remarked,
I have recovered Nazi-looted art from World War Two before, including pieces in the Louvre, the Dutch Royal Collection, and numerous museums.
But discovering a painting from the famous Goudstikker collection, in the possession of the heirs of a notorious and famous Dutch Waffen-SS general, truly tops everything.
He added,
For decades, the family, who of course bear no personal guilt for Seyffardt's own crimes, had the opportunity to do the right thing and return this painting. They chose not to.
Brand later informed the BBC, without elaborating,
The painting has been handed over to us.
Related Cases of Nazi-Looted Art
This discovery parallels a previous case in which an Italian master painting stolen from the Goudstikker collection by the Nazis appeared on a real estate website advertising a house in Argentina.
A photograph showed the Portrait of a Lady by Giuseppe Ghislandi hanging above a sofa inside a property near Buenos Aires, once owned by a senior Nazi official who relocated to South America after World War II.
The discovery prompted a police raid on the property, but by the time authorities arrived, the painting had apparently been removed.
