Art and AntiquitiesThree new books about the world of art and antiquities might as well be true crime thrillers. Page-turners all, these books explore the questions "Who owns art and antiquities?" and if we own either, "Is what we own authentic?"
In Loot : The Battle over the Stolen Treasures of the Ancient World, Sharon Waxman explores whether or not antiquities held by major museums, and acquired under less than ideal circumstances, should be returned to their countries of origin.
Nina Burleigh's Unholy Business: a True Tale of Faith, Greed & Forgery in the Holy Land follows the trail of antiquities fraud and describes the competing interests of scholars, religious believers, antiques dealers, millionaires and of course, the police.
In The Forger's Spell : A True Story of Vermeer, Nazis, and the Greatest Art Hoax of the Twentieth Century, Edward Dolnick tells the story of Han van Meegeren who made a fortune in German-occupied Holland by forging paintings of the Dutch painter Vermeer. Hermann Göring, commander of the Luftwaffe and Hitler's heir apparent, was one of the forger's clients. Needless to say, this was not one of van Meegeren's better choices...
