Simon Houpt

I really love reading about art history mysteries---I can't get enough! This book was super interesting and will be going straight into my permanent collection. I found myself looking up each work and notating in the book whether they'd been recovered since publication. Happily, I found quite a few that had!

I was pretty disgusted with the way museums and governments refuse to give up obviously stolen property. The British handling of the art property of other nations, in particular, is show more despicable. I'm planning a trip in March and Selah really wants to see the Natural History Museum/V&A/etc. --- not so sure I'll enjoy it as much now as I have in the past. As the author points out, how many pieces in our museums are even the spoils of war? Quite the moral dilemma there...

Even though I'm always rooting for the good guys, I do have to admit several of the heists were pretty genius. The whole story surrounding the fictional Thomas Alcock collection was pretty impressive.

Great read---glad I took the time! show less

This beautifully illustrated tome will appeal to those interested in learning more about the stories behind some of the most famous art thefts in history, ingenious swindles carried out by daring criminals, heartless looting of cultural treasures by nations, and all the law enforcement agencies and cultural institutions who tried (and still try) to stop them.

I’d originally borrowed this from a local library to find out more about the Gardner heist in Boston, but was so captivated by the show more author’s storytelling and interesting tidbits of background information that he’d woven into the short texts, that I bought my own hardback copy and read the whole thing.
Not only does the author describe in detail several of the more brazen and important art crimes worldwide, he goes further, placing the robberies or looting in historical context, describing the value of the objects within criminal organizations, and explaining the important role of forgeries in many thefts.

The role of political leaders behind some of the more extensive looting's is also described, as well as the rightful owners’ often unsuccessful quest to regain possession of their sculpture, painting or antique heirloom. The complex research and investigative work of private detectives, museum staff and police in trying to find these missing pieces is also well explained. The book ends with a lengthy appendix of missing masterpieces and descriptions of their theft or disappearance.

It is not an exhaustive reference book, more of an introduction into this murky world of looted, stolen and forged art. And quite an entertaining one! show less

This beautifully illustrated tome will appeal to those interested in learning more about the stories behind some of the most famous art thefts in history, ingenious swindles carried out by daring criminals, heartless looting of cultural treasures by nations, and all the law enforcement agencies and cultural institutions who tried (and still try) to stop them.

I’d originally borrowed this from a local library to find out more about the Gardner heist in Boston, but was so captivated by the show more author’s storytelling and interesting tidbits of background information that he’d woven into the short texts, that I bought my own hardback copy and read the whole thing.
Not only does the author describe in detail several of the more brazen and important art crimes worldwide, he goes further, placing the robberies or looting in historical context, describing the value of the objects within criminal organizations, and explaining the important role of forgeries in many thefts.

The role of political leaders behind some of the more extensive looting's is also described, as well as the rightful owners’ often unsuccessful quest to regain possession of their sculpture, painting or antique heirloom. The complex research and investigative work of private detectives, museum staff and police in trying to find these missing pieces is also well explained. The book ends with a lengthy appendix of missing masterpieces and descriptions of their theft or disappearance.

It is not an exhaustive reference book, more of an introduction into this murky world of looted, stolen and forged art. And quite an entertaining one!

*Neem me niet kwalijk dat dit recensie in het Engels is. Ik heb het boek in het Nederlands gelezen, maar het blijft mij tweede taal. wilde liever dat mijn mening duidelijk was -- en in het Engels -- in plaats van verwarrend. show less

This beautifully illustrated tome will appeal to those interested in learning more about the stories behind some of the most famous art thefts in history, ingenious swindles carried out by daring criminals, heartless looting of cultural treasures by nations, and all the law enforcement agencies and cultural institutions who tried (and still try) to stop them.

I’d originally borrowed this from a local library to find out more about the Gardner heist in Boston, but was so captivated by the show more author’s storytelling and interesting tidbits of background information that he’d woven into the short texts, that I bought my own hardback copy and read the whole thing.
Not only does the author describe in detail several of the more brazen and important art crimes worldwide, he goes further, placing the robberies or looting in historical context, describing the value of the objects within criminal organizations, and explaining the important role of forgeries in many thefts.

The role of political leaders behind some of the more extensive looting's is also described, as well as the rightful owners’ often unsuccessful quest to regain possession of their sculpture, painting or antique heirloom. The complex research and investigative work of private detectives, museum staff and police in trying to find these missing pieces is also well explained. The book ends with a lengthy appendix of missing masterpieces and descriptions of their theft or disappearance.

It is not an exhaustive reference book, more of an introduction into this murky world of looted, stolen and forged art. And quite an entertaining one! show less