Were you aware of the missing masterpiece discovered over the course of the novel, or others like it? What did you know about this bit of history beforehand?
I had read before of missing artwork during the war. I knew that items were hidden underground where they would be safe from the war.
Yes, I have read books and seen documents about the stolen art of WWII. I am also aware of several significant court cases concerning stolen work. Lately, I have read several books that have used this as a plot point, so I am starting to feel it is at the tipping point, and authors need to look for other plot points.
Yes, I knew there was a market for stolen art work be it from WWII or cultures such as Egyptian, Mayan, etc. The recent crime at the Louvre made me think the items were “requested” by some black market buyer/seller. Sadly, there are still people who deal in stolen masterpieces and great works of art. Sadly, too, there are buyers.
I was not aware of that item. I was aware of all the art that was lost in the war
I have been well aware of the stolen artworks from Jewish homes and European museums my entire life. There are now groups seeking to identify and return stolen artworks to the descendants of original owners. Several top flight museums have been compelled to return stolen works. In some instances, the most recent owners didn’t know. But for museums, provenance is everything. Example, the curators at the British Museum know full well that Lord Elgin did not have the permission of a legitimate government to transport the ‘Elgin Marbles’ to the UK.
I really didn’t know the specifics of this lost art piece. I did know that during WWII many art treasures were stolen. Including this fact and who was involved in the thief added depth to the story. Besides hunting one beast (an animal) and handling another beast (art thief) kept the reader wondering what next and it all was interrelated.