The Concert/Vermeer
Daniel Silva used the following episode as the basis for his novel THE COLLECTOR.
Art theft is an intriguing crime that has occurred throughout history. Some of the most well-known paintings at some point in their residence at museums, galleries or private residences have either been attempted to be stolen, or in fact successfully stolen.
The painting "The Concert" by Johannes Vermeer (the creator of the famous "Girl with a Pearl Earring" painting) is one of the most famous stolen artworks in history. It was stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1990, along with 12 other paintings, including works by Rembrandt, Manet and Degas. To this day, none of the artworks have been recovered, and the empty frames still hang in the museum as a sign of hope, waiting for their eventual return.
THE COLLECTOR
Legendary art restorer and spy Gabriel Allon joins forces with a brilliant and beautiful master-thief to track down the world's most valuable missing painting but soon finds himself in a desperate race to prevent an unthinkable conflict between Russia and the West.
Isabella Stewart Gardner
The vivid and masterful story ofIsabella Stewart Gardner--creator of one of America's most stunning museums--an American original whose own life was remade by art. Includes archival photos of Isabella's world, museum, and the art she collected.
Isabella Stewart Gardner's museum, with its plain exterior enfolding an astonishing four-story Italian palazzo, rose from Boston's Fens at the turn of the twentieth century. Its treasures encompassed not only masterwork paintings but tapestries, rare books, prints, porcelains, and fine furniture.
The Art Thief
NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER - One of the most remarkable true-crime narratives of the twenty-first century: the story of the world's most prolific art thief, Stéphane Breitwieser. - "The Art Thief, like its title character, has confidence, élan, and a great sense of timing."--The New Yorker
A Conversation with Michael Finkel
d'Orsay with Deanna
Terrance,
Meredith and her mother and sister and I had a delightful morning at Le Musée D’Orsay with Deanna leading the way. Her knowledge and insights brought us closer to the art, the artists, and the vivid history of modern art. This is the third time I have relied on Deanna to guide me and it will certainly not be the last! Thanks to you and Deanna for a wonderful experience!
Bobby Stepp, Columbia, SC
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Readers Comments
I'm reading The Black Count? A great read and, of course, he was the father of Alexandre Dumas brings in Napoleon, etc.-Jeannine Athas
Thanks for sharing Terrance. I would have missed the information about the Bonnard-Matisse exhibit at the Fondation Maeght!
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