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The History of Loot and Stolen Art by Ivan Lindsay #GuestPost
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The History of Loot and Stolen Art by Ivan Lindsay #GuestPost


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LootandStolenArtBannerstolen art“Since World War Two, audacious art theft has continued at a steady rate. Interpol’s dedicated art theft department circulates a list of stolen works which now contains over 30,000 items, the top fifty most valuable of which comprise a staggering selection: Rembrandts, Vermeers, Caravaggios, Rubens, Picassos, Renoirs, van Goghs and Monets.

When we think of looted art, the Nazis often spring to mind. Between 1939 and 1945 Germany removed 592.48 tons of gold from the occupied countries and looted an estimated twenty percent of Europe’s finest artworks. This art was distributed for Hitler’s benefit, including as gifts to henchmen such as Hermann Göring, who kept a staggering 1,500 paintings at his country estate Karinhall. However, as A History of Loot and Stolen Art grippingly reveals, looting of treasures and artworks has been rife since the earliest days of man.

Examining the motivations of the world’s leading looters and art thieves, and the efforts that have been made at restitution of valuable works, A History of Loot and Stolen Art traces an astonishing line in history. Starting with the Ancients; Greeks, Romans, Vikings, Moors and Charlemagne, the author reveals the lust for pride of ownership and power over vanquished enemies that has driven conquerors throughout history to ruthless pillaging. From Sargon II who ruled Syria between 721 and 705 BC, Alexander the Great, Cesare Borgia, Pizarro the Spanish conquistador who defeated the Incan Empire; to Francis Drake, Napoleon Bonaparte, Joseph Stalin, Hermann Goering and Adolf Hitler, we eventually reach the twenty ?rst century, in which hardly a day passes without news of another serious art theft.

The author, Ivan Lindsay, says: Researching The History of Loot and Stolen Art allowed me to study the looting exploits of some of history’s leading warlords. This subject continues to fascinate people, as shown by the recent release of the film, The Monuments Men which recreates the actions of art historians saving art from destruction at the end of WWII. And in late 2010 a hoard of 1,280 Nazi-era looted artworks were discovered in the Munich apartment of 82 year old Rolf Nikolaus Cornelius Gurlitt, the reclusive son of an art dealer.’

Sumptuously illustrated with more than two hundred images, A History of Loot and Stolen Art is a fascinating plunge into an undeniably tantalizing, intriguing world.

Purchase the book:

Amazon | Amazon UK | B&N | Telegraph

 

Guest Post:

Why did you choose to write this book?
This book was born out a lecture that I gave to the Mensa at Cambridge Conference at Magdalene College, Cambridge University in 2008.  The theme of the Conference was the 7 Deadly Sins and I was asked to talk on Envy.  I had always been interested in art theft and I gave a talk entitled ‘Art Theft through the ages.’  A precis of the talk can be found here http://www.oldmasters.net/test/journal/envy-art-theft-through-the-ages/  After the talk several people told me they thought it would make a great book and I decided to write it.
Top ten things you love about art?
Picasso said that Art is the lie that shows us the truth.  I think what he was trying to say is that great art forces us to look at a subject or an idea in a new way.  Art is an artist’s way of reinterpreting an idea or something they see.  Great art has a metaphysical quality that is very hard to put into words.  It communicates something to the viewer they can feel but often that they cannot articulate.  We all know when we stand in front of a Rembrandt that we are seeing something special but less easy is to say why.  Is it his brushwork, his technical mastery, his truthfulness is depicting exactly what he saw, his vision or a combination of these things and others? Nobody really knows but we can agree that great art is great art and never loses its ability to move us, challenge us and enhance our lives.  No knowledge is necessary to appreciate art.  It should be able to speak to anyone irrespective of what they know about the work or the artist.

About the author:

Ivan Lindsay, who has researched the history of stolen art over many years, deals in old master paintings and Russian Twentieth century art. His enthusiasm and knowledge of his subject is highly evident in this book, which aims to become one of the seminal works on the subject.

In his new book, The History of Loot of Stolen art, Ivan Lindsay examines the subject of art theft, listing the major art thieves through history and what they stole and why. Alexander the Great campaigned out of necessity to avoid Macedonian bankruptcy, removing 1,500 tons of gold alone from the Treasuries of the Persian Empire at Susa and Sardis, whereas the Vikings found undefended English monasteries full of gold and silver too tempting to ignore.

Ivan Lindsay is an art dealer specializing in European and Russian paintings. He was educated at Eton College and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. After four years in the British Army in South East Asia, he worked in the City of London before becoming an art dealer. He writes and lectures on art and the art market and is currently a Contributing Editor at Spears Magazine.

ivan lindsay

Ivan Lindsay (Photograph courtesy of Sophie Lindsay Photography)

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