Plundering beauty : a history of art crime during war

Author / Creator

Tompkins, Arthur, author

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Summary

"The roll-call of wars down the centuries is paralleled by an equally extensive narrative of the theft, destruction, plundering, displacement and concealing of some of the world's greatest works of...

"The roll-call of wars down the centuries is paralleled by an equally extensive narrative of the theft, destruction, plundering, displacement and concealing of some of the world's greatest works of art. From the many wars of classical antiquity, through the military turning points and detours of the Fourth Crusade, the Thirty Years' War, Revolutionary and Napoleonic France, the First and Second World Wars, and then onwards to the ongoing contemporary conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, the history of art crime in times of conflict contains many extraordinary, devastating and often little-known stories. 'Plundering Beauty: A History of Art Crime During War' charts the crucial milestones of art crimes spanning two thousand years, as civilization moves from a simple and brutal 'winner takes it all' attitude to the spoils of war, towards a contemporary understanding, and commitment to, the idea that our artistic heritage truly belongs to all humankind"--Publisher's description.

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