Introduction This is a book about fake art, stolen art, and looted and smuggled art. It's about sneaky forgers who trick us into believing that art they made was really created by a famous artist. It's about devious criminals who plot and scheme and take what's not theirs. And it's about determined detectives who follow the clues and reclaim missing masterpieces. Art mysteries are all around us. Enter a museum, and fake art could be hiding in plain sight on the walls. Masterpieces are stolen, sometimes never to be seen again. Ancient artifacts are illegally removed from archaeological and religious sites around the world.

Art crime costs billions of dollars, which is a lot, but it's not only about the money. It's also about deception and dishonesty. Look closely at a painting or a sculpture. Can you feel the artist's emotions? Can you hear the story they're telling? Art has the power to connect us with other people and introduce us to faraway places. It can convey tales of sadness, joy, pain, and hope that were never written down. Art is often a direct line to our ancestors and our culture. When someone messes with art, they're rewriting or taking away our history without our knowledge or consent. We should be able to trust that what we see is the real deal and was legally obtained.

To do that, we need people who are clever and passionate to champion the truth. We need art detectives. Art detectives can be law enforcement agents or hired investigators. They can be art historians, conservators, and curators. They can be scientists with fake-busting technologies. They can be people who enjoy art and understand why it matters. And they can be mystery lovers and puzzle solvers. Like you.

Definitely you. In this book, you'll get special access to the case files from some of history's most perplexing art whodunits. You'll go behind the scenes to follow tangled trails of clues from high-profile heists, incredible cover-ups, and shocking smuggling rings. You'll learn some art history and a good dose of science, because understanding the ins and outs of how a crime was committed is the key to unmasking and capturing the criminals--and making sure it doesn't happen again. So grab a paintbrush and a magnifying glass, and let's explore some amazing art mysteries! Anatomy of a Painting Art crime involves every type of art, including paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs, ceramics, and jewelry. In this book, we focus mostly on paintings, so here's a peek at what goes on around and under the surface of a painted artwork. Usually carved from wood, a frame goes around the edges of a painting to decorate and safeguard it. Varnish is a clear protective coat applied in thin or thick layers.

Paint is a liquid pigment that is applied in thin or thick layers. A sketch in charcoal, chalk, or pencil on the canvas is called an under-drawing . The artist uses it as a guide and later paints over it. The ground layer or primer is a base coat of paint. This first layer fills in the canvas's texture, leaving behind a smooth surface. The canvas is sturdy cloth, made of linen, hemp, jute, burlap, or cotton. The stretcher is a wooden frame that holds the canvas in place. Nails or metal tacks attach the canvas to the stretcher.