Picasso anyone?

FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I have an appreciation for priceless artifacts in the same way that I appreciate shoes. I admire them from a distance but seldom indulge in them. (Sorry, shoe lovers but as I’m permanently on the go with small kiddies, I need simple, practical flats! I'll stick to admiring yours!) As for the art, read on ...

My latest book, Cat Got Your Tongue?, consists of hot romance interweaved between a world of cat burglars and art heists. I had so much fun writing this story but as my knowledge of art and the theft thereof is fairly limited, writing this book involved a lot of research.

I soon realized that there are a variety of art collectors with an eye for art work from different artists and eras. As my hero is a billionaire with an art fetish for works by renowned artists like Degas, Monet, Picasso, Renoir etc, I focused my research mostly around the sales and theft of antique art from as early as the 18th century.

I was surprised to discover that art theft is a thriving industry with an estimated annual loss running in the billions and not something that only happens in the movies. Museums and private owners are both targets and go to great lengths to protect their art. But what surprised me most was the value attached to these paintings. Clearly, there are many enthusiastic collectors with monster wallets and a desire to possess the most prized artwork.

One of my favourite auction events is the sale of Picasso’s painting of his mistress, Marie Therese Walter. The painting, Nude, Green Leaves and Bust, sold on auction at Christies in 2010 for $106 million dollars. Wow.

To top that off, another gorgeous masterpiece went up for sale at Sotheby’s two years later. Edvard Munch’s The Scream sold for $120 million dollars. Double wow! (That's a lot of shoes! Just think of all the books we need to sell to afford that!)

The Scream has been the target of several thefts and theft attempts. Not surprising considering its value. Two gorgeous paintings that are icons in the art world, with a combined value of over $200 million dollars ... I bet there are a few art thieves itching to relieve these collectors of their magnificent paintings.

Hm, makes for a fascinating new story, don’t you think?

I’m on it!

Thanks for reading.

Rae Rivers
www.raerivers.com