Over the course of a decade, Stephane Breitwieser, along with his girlfriend who stood guard, stole more than 300 pieces of art with an estimated value of $2 billion. How the thefts were accomplished, what was done with the art and, finally, Breitwieser’s downfall are chronicled in Michael Finkel’s The Art Thief.
It’s not just the number of thefts, but the brazen, often clever, methods employed along with the variety of items stolen. These ranged from small ivory sculptures to paintings, from medieval weapons to a massive tapestry – among much, much more.
Lesser-known, often out-of-the-way museums and castles were the usual targets: places with limited budgets for effective security. There was little advance scouting involved and it wasn’t unusual for Breitwieser to be captivated by a work, or two, at first sight and simply walk out the door with it. Initially, locations throughout France and Switzerland were his primary targets, but expanded to include much of Europe.
There were never any attempts to sell the pieces. Instead, Breitwieser collected them in the attic bedroom he shared with his girlfriend in his mother’s home. At first the works occupied a table here or a wall there. Eventually, the room was overrun with the stolen goods.
Besides spending time with Breitwieser, Finkel conducted extensive research and interviewed psychologists, Swiss and French police officers, among others. The result is a fascinating portrait of a man obsessed with fine art willing to go to extremes — and the thrill — to attain it free.
The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession
Four Bookmarks
Alfred A. Knopf, 2023
224 pages, includes notes
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