Don Argott's documentary The Art of the Steal is the true story of what some believe is destined to be one of the greatest art thefts in history. In 1922, Dr. Albert C. Barnes created The Barnes Foundation outside Philadelphia. It was a collection of Post-Impressionist and early modern art that he intended to serve as an educational institution. At the time, the city's cultural elite and tastemakers looked down their noses and scoffed in derision at his collection of "horrible, debased art." However, tastes changed, as is their wont, and soon these same critics wanted to get their hands on his collection. In 1951, Dr. Barnes died in a car accident and left control of the collection to Lincoln University, a small African-American college, and his will stipulated that the Foundation will always be an educational institution and that the paintings may never be removed.
Flash forward 50 years, and a powerful group of moneyed interests have gone to court to take the art--which is valued at more than $25 billion--and bring it to a new museum in Philadelphia. Standing in their way is a group of former students who are trying to block the move. Will the students succeed?
"No matter what side you're on, you're likely to be flabbergasted as The Art of the Steal details the twists and turns of chicanery and fate that brought his art to the pass it's at today." --Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
