2015 in Review: Art Crime
- December 26, 2015 13:33
Sensational stories of art crimes were plenteous in 2015. The Creators Project has put together a list of some of the biggest headlines, ranging from ISIS destroying the ancient buildings and artifacts of Palmyra to the brazen Ukranian ultranationalists who seek an exorbitant "finder's fee" for stolen artwork from a Dutch museum.
View the year's biggest art crimes here, and see our list below for more stories:
- The theft of about $75,000 worth of Grateful Dead memorabilia from a Chicago-area auction house.
- Fan's $1 Million reward for return of Dorothy's iconic ruby slippers yields no leads.
- The Andy Warhol Museum in Slovakia is missing two artworks after making a loan.
- Clients sue London art dealer Timothy Sammons over missing millions.
- San Francisco fraudster Luke Brugnara gets prison time for swindling a New York art dealer, but a Degas ballerina sculpture is still missing.
- Couple sues NY gallery over fake Norman Rockwell bought from now-deceased art dealer.
- A judge ruled that two cases from the $60 miliion Knoedler forgery scandal will head to trial. One case was settled out of court. A fight is on over what evidence and which witnesses will be presented in court on January 25 for a case against the gallery brought by Sotheby's chairman Domenico De Sole. Meanwhile, art dealer Glafira Rosales, who supplied Knoedler with fakes, still awaits sentencing and $4.3 million worth of legitimate art in her possession was sold by US Marshals through Texas auctioneer Gastom & Sheehan to repay victims. This mess will certainly continue into 2016...
Read more at The Creators Project
_-Closing-the-Distance_100x100_c.jpg "Lot 204: Bob Kuhn (1920–2007),Closing the Distance, 1977, acrylic on masonite, 24 x 48 in, Sold: $409,500")
![Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish, 1577–1640), After Titian (Tiziano Vecelli) (Italian [Venetian], c. 1488–1576), Rape of Europa, 1628–29. Oil on canvas, 71 7/8 x 79 3/8 in.](/images/c/e2/2e/Jan20_Rape_of_Europa100x100_c.jpg "Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish, 1577–1640), After Titian (Tiziano Vecelli) (Italian [Venetian], c. 1488–1576), Rape of Europa, 1628–29. Oil on canvas, 71 7/8 x 79 3/8 in.")
![A 19th century Seven Piece "Chrysanthemum" Pattern Sterling Silver Coffee & Tea Service, which was exhibited in the Tiffany & Co. booth at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exhibition in Chicago](/images/c/78/96/Tiffany___Co__Makers_Seven_Piece_"Chrysanthem100x100_c.jpg "A 19th century Seven Piece \"Chrysanthemum\" Pattern Sterling Silver Coffee & Tea Service, which was exhibited in the Tiffany & Co. booth at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exhibition in Chicago")
