The Art of the Steal Reviews
What is “The Art of the Steal”?
A 2009 movie.
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Available at Netflix.
The Art of the Steal Reviews
Featured Review
“Say you have a private collection of art. You put it in a gallery, but everyone in the "establishment" says your collection is awful. So you say screw 'em and remove the collection from the public gallery. The "establishment" doesn't know shit clearly, and you decide you'll never make the mistake of sharing it with them again. In fact, you'll never put them in a true gallery again; you decide to open a school where people who actually care about art can attend and learn and appreciate the works. Fast forward a generation. Your art is now valued at billions of dollars and the establishment readily acknowledges the value of the work they once mocked. They want the work back in the public gallery. So does the governor who sees a huge revenue stream from the tourism associated with what's now widely considered the greatest private collection of art. But you refuse. Game on...”
Reviewed by ashvin
Comments
girlfriday
That Seurat painting with the nudes in front of "Sunday in the Park" is ... just wow.
Other Reviews
“Provocative documentary on the intersection between art, politics and commerce.
I grew up in Philadelphia's Main Line, a few miles away from the Barnes Collection, and I think I had vaguely heard about it being some impressive art collection nearby. But I had no idea about the drama going on behind the scenes, so this was of particular interest to me.
Anyway, the filmmakers do a good job of taking material that could have been fairly dry - the war over where to house a massive collection of Impressionist and Early Modern paintings - and making it gripping, like a suspense thriller. Recommended.”
I grew up in Philadelphia's Main Line, a few miles away from the Barnes Collection, and I think I had vaguely heard about it being some impressive art collection nearby. But I had no idea about the drama going on behind the scenes, so this was of particular interest to me.
Anyway, the filmmakers do a good job of taking material that could have been fairly dry - the war over where to house a massive collection of Impressionist and Early Modern paintings - and making it gripping, like a suspense thriller. Recommended.”
“Dr. Barnes developed a large fabulous art collection. His will specified that the collection was to be used primarily for study and was not to be loaned out or given to any other institution. The collection was worth 25 billion (or so) dollars. Dr. Barnes was particularly set against the art and political establishment.
Who would have guessed that a collection worth so much would cause so much trouble? Well . . . There is no such thing as an iron-clad will when there is that much money involved.”
Who would have guessed that a collection worth so much would cause so much trouble? Well . . . There is no such thing as an iron-clad will when there is that much money involved.”
“5-star Documentary about one of the most atrocious government and private groups illegal activities regarding a 25 BILLION dollar private art collection. (The Barnes Collection)”
“An interesting movie about the recent exploitation and perhaps redirection from the original mission of the Barnes Foundation, a Philadelphia based art school and owner of an art collection estimated to be worth over $25 billion. The film centers on the Philadelphia elite establishment's attempt to gain control of the collection and move it from its founder's chosen location, the school he founded in a suburban neighborhood, deliberately kept from downtown Philadelphia. Even if you're not interested in art, this documentary unravels an interesting story of a 20th century entrepreneur's life.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnes_collection”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnes_collection”
“A strange film, but if you like crime or art or museums it is a little nice to watch.
Kind of hard to watch at times”
Kind of hard to watch at times”
“Really interesting documentary about the breaking of the trust to move the Barnes collection from its original home in the burbs of Philadelphia to Philadelphia proper. The star of this documentary is, of course, the Barnes Collection (one of the finest collections of modern French art in the world).”
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