Review of The Art of the Steal (2010) by James D — 29 Apr 2010

"Art isn't easy, Even when you're hot,.

Advancing art is easy, Financing it is not!".

- Lyrics from Stephen Sondheim's Putting It Together.

(Recommended) This biased but fascinating documentary poses some interesting questions: Should a man's legacy be stolen from him? Do greed and political ambition override personal interests? Does the power of the majority transcend the wishes of the minority? Is a man's will legally biding? At what price glory?

You may agree to disagree with some of the answers in The Art of the Steal, the true story about the violation of Albert C. Barnes bequest to retain his private art collection within his own gallery in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania rather than share it outside its environs, specifically his artistic adversary, The Philadelphia Museum of Art. The history of this collection: In 1922, Barnes created The Barnes Foundation, one of the foremost collection of Post-Impressionist and early Modern art, now valued at over 25 billion dollars. This avid collector acquired and housed priceless works of art from many of the greatest known artists such as Matisse, Renoir, Cezanne, and Picasso, to name a few. Thirty years later, the millionaire died but stipulated in his will that these paintings must never leave his estate. Fifty years later, the courts would be forced to decide of its outcome.).

The film's title already states its point of view. It is a one-sided stance, and perhaps, it would have been a stronger expose if the director, Don Argott, would have created a more balanced viewpoint. Still, this informative film effectively explores the intent to break Barnes' will in no uncertain terms. The film remains critical of the conspiracy by elected politicians (the mayor of Philadelphia, the governor, judges, and state representatives) and rich elite charitable organizations that have united and rallied their cause to unseat this art collection and move (or hijack) it to a more suitable place... center-city Philadelphia, where the pundits believe the public can have better access to see its splendor. It faults these politicians and businessmen as sanctimonious culprits, seeing dollar signs and tourist revenue as their ultimate goal as they try to takeover the Foundation's assets. The film also raises objections to the exploitation of the arts as pure business and the dishonoring of one man's artistic achievement in the process.

The Art of the Steal shows the struggle for control of the Barnes Foundation and makes for interesting viewing about this complex issue. By ignoring Barnes' intention and his supposedly legally-biding last will and testament, has justice been served? You'll have to be the judge of that. GRADE: B.