Great Art Reads for Your Summer Vacation
No vacation is complete without a few good books in tow. If you’re an art nerd like me who reads a lot of academic non-fiction for work, you’ll appreciate a change of pace with these fact-based stories that read like thrillers or mystery novels — with plenty of intrigue, adventure and/or scandal to spice things up. So hit the library, the bookstore, or click the links provided to grab these great art reads for your beach bag. Enjoy!
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- The Gardner Heist: The True Story of the World’s Largest Unsolved Art Theft by Ulrich Boser
If you’ve spent any amount of time in the art world, you’ve probably heard of the famous unsolved robbery of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, MA. If you haven’t, dive into this thriller that details the true story of two brazen thieves that removed 12–13 masterpieces — valued at $500 million — including works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Degas in the early hours of March 18, 1990. Picking up where the famous art detective Harold Smith left off, the author plunges into the underbelly of the art world to uncover any clues that could lead to recovery of the artwork and/or arrests of the perpetrators. Will he succeed? Find out for yourself!
2. Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World’s Stolen Treasures by Robert K. Wittman
Imagine the James Bond of art crime — that’s Robert Wittman, founder of FBI’s Art Crime Team. His incredible story will not disappoint — from his modest roots as an antique dealer’s son to a twenty-year career traveling the globe to recover stolen art and artifacts, including famous works by Rodin, Rockwell, Rembrandt and more! The range of works recovered is astonishing; from the golden armor of a Peruvian King to an original copy of the Bill of Rights, the author risked his life in the name of justice. Buckle up for this adventure as you experience Wittman’s first-hand accounts of going undercover, alone and often unarmed, into high-stakes international negotiations.
3. Rogues’ Gallery: The Secret Story of Lust, Lies, Greed, and Betrayals that Made the Metropolitan Museum of Art by Michael Gross
For any museum buff visiting New York City, The Met is probably at the top of the list. With one of the largest and most diverse art collections in the United States, this museum is a mecca for art lovers worldwide. It’s always been associated with big names; from the early days of John P. Morgan and John D. Rockefeller to present day with famous celebrities attending its annual Gala event. In Rogues’ Gallery, the author tells the first independent, unauthorized history of the crazy cast of upper-class characters who made the museum what it is today. Be warned: this is a raunchy, hilarious and often horrifying look at rich America and how, miraculously, they brought us this amazing institution.
4. The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert M. Edsel & Bret Witter
Truth be told, I’m not a fan of war novels; but this one focuses less on the horror of senseless killing and more on the quest to save art and artifacts in war zones. As Hitler was collecting (read: stealing) art from across Europe during the Nazi regime, a small group of Allied museum directors, curators, and art historians, known as the “Monuments Men” raced against the clock and risked their lives to save the finest art treasures in Europe. This story takes us on a perilous journey, during the eleven-month stretch between D-Day and V-E Day, with six Monuments Men and the art and heritage they saved from destruction.
GET IT HERE: paperback / kindle
Check out the major motion picture The Monuments Men (2014) staring Cate Blanchett, George Clooney, Matt Damon, John Goodman, Bill Murray and many more. WATCH IT HERE
5. Vanished Smile: The Mysterious Theft of Mona Lisa by R.A. Scotti
Everyone knows the Mona Lisa — she’s an icon of art — the most easily-recognized painting of all time. But do you know how she became so famous? The answer might surprise you! On August 21, 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. And more than twenty-four hours passed before the museum realized it was gone! This sensational crime drew a lot of attention. During the two years Mona Lisa was missing, international media had a field day with the story and Mona Lisa became a celebrity. Thousands of visitors lined up to see the empty space where she used to hang on the Louvre walls! Thanks to early twentieth-century printing technology, her face appeared on posters plastered to nearly every street corner in Paris and printed in almost every newspaper worldwide. Meanwhile, detectives experimented with a new criminology method to catch the thief: identification through fingerprinting. Of course, Mona Lisa found her way back to the Louvre, where she can still be admired today. For the full story, read this book!
What other art reads have you enjoyed lately? Share in the comments below so I can add your suggestions to this list. Happy reading!
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