A long lost painting looted decades ago in Nazi occupied Europe has been recovered in Argentina, officials have said.

Portrait of a Lady, by Italian master Giuseppe Ghislandi, had been missing for 80 years before it was spotted last month on an estate agent's website, where a photo showed it hanging in a house that had belonged to the daughter of a Nazi fugitive.

Patricia Kadgien's late father Friedrich had been a top adviser to Hermann Goring, Adolf Hitler's deputy, who plundered thousands of works from across Europe.

Prosecutors said the artwork had now been returned by the lawyer of Ms Kadgien, who was under house arrest after a search of her property initially failed to find the painting.

Ariel Bassano, an art expert who worked on the case, told reporters it was in good condition for its age, as it dates from 1710 and valued it at around $50,000.

The couple is expected to face a hearing where they would likely be charged with concealment of theft in the context of genocide. They maintain they are the rightful owners, having inherited the painting.

The painting, along with others potentially stolen during the war, emphasizes ongoing efforts for provenance and restitution in the art world.