The art of the steal

Don Argott's gripping documentary The art of the steal chronicles the long and dramatic struggle for control of the Barnes Foundation, a private collection of art valued at more than $25 billion. In 1922, Dr. Albert C. Barnes formed a remarkable educational institution around his priceless collection of art, located just five miles outside of Philadelphia. Now, more than 50 years after Barnes' death, a powerful group of moneyed interests have gone to court for control of the art, and intend to bring it to a new museum in Philadelphia. Standing in their way is a group of Barnes' former students and his will, which contains strict instructions stating the Foundation should always be an educational institution, and that the paintings may never be removed. Will they succeed or will politics prevail over a man's dying wishes? Directed by Don Argott. Produced by Sheena M. Joyce. Reviews: "Terrifically suspenseful and enlightening. The forces of art and money square off with primal ferocity" -- Entertainment Weekly. "Engrossing; a totally involving story about the exploitation of art and the thorny entanglement of culture, capitalism and politics" -- indieWIRE.

Open All Close All

type

http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#type

about

http://schema.org/about

contributor

http://schema.org/contributor

description

http://schema.org/description

"Don Argott's gripping documentary The art of the steal chronicles the long and dramatic struggle for control of the Barnes Foundation, a private collection of art valued at more than $25 billion. In 1922, Dr. Albert C. Barnes formed a remarkable educational institution around his priceless collection of art, located just five miles outside of Philadelphia. Now, more than 50 years after Barnes' death, a powerful group of moneyed interests have gone to court for control of the art, and intend to bring it to a new museum in Philadelphia. Standing in their way is a group of Barnes' former students and his will, which contains strict instructions stating the Foundation should always be an educational institution, and that the paintings may never be removed. Will they succeed or will politics prevail over a man's dying wishes? Directed by Don Argott. Produced by Sheena M. Joyce. Reviews: "Terrifically suspenseful and enlightening. The forces of art and money square off with primal ferocity" -- Entertainment Weekly. "Engrossing; a totally involving story about the exploitation of art and the thorny entanglement of culture, capitalism and politics" -- indieWIRE."@en
"It's been called the greatest theft of art since the Second World War. Reveals how a private collection of paintings became the envy of the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and other major institutions, and the prize in a battle between one man's vision and the forces of commerce and politics. Founded in 1922 by wealthy American drug developer and art collector Albert C. Barnes, the Barnes Foundation became the finest collection of paintings by Renoir, Cezanne, Matisse, and Van Gogh."
"It's been called the greatest theft of art since the Second World War. Reveals how a private collection of paintings became the envy of the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and other major institutions, and the prize in a battle between one man's vision and the forces of commerce and politics. Founded in 1922 by wealthy American drug developer and art collector Albert C. Barnes, the Barnes Foundation became the finest collection of paintings by Renoir, Cezanne, Matisse, and Van Gogh."@en
"Documentaire. Examine la bataille qui s'est déclaré après le décès d'Albert Barnes autour de son importante collection de peintures post-impressionnistes d'une valeur de 25 milliards. En 1922, le Dr Albert C. Barnes fonde aux environs de Philadelphie une institution remarquable autour de sa précieuse collection d'art dans un but d'éducation. Maintenant, plus de 50 ans après la mort de Barnes, un puissant groupe de riches investisseurs ont recours aux tribunaux pour s'approprier les pièces de cette collection pour enrichir un nouveau musée à Philadelphie. La résistance viendra d'un groupe d'anciens étudiants de Barnes, qui viendra défendre les buts éducatifs de la Fondation."