Art Crime: Exposing a Panoply of Theft, Fraud and Plunder

Abstract

This introductory chapter sets the scene for the art crime research included in this handbook. In deciding on the final structure and content of the handbook we have been very much influenced by a series of invited papers, presentations and allied discussions and debates that arose from them during the course of three intensive art crime-related workshops we commissioned. These international and multi-disciplinary proceedings were made possible by a network grant from the United Kingdom’s Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). The first of these workshops was on the subject of art theft, the second on art fraud and the third on cultural heritage plunder. All of the workshop proceedings were recorded and many of the papers and presentations given have subsequently been refined and submitted for inclusion in the handbook. We have elected to group and present the selected chapters under five broad headings or parts: setting the context; art theft; art fraud and forgery; art plunder; and some ethical and allied challenges. We present the content of each contribution in this introductory chapter.