Lost Masterpieces

by D.K. Publishing

Discover the extraordinary stories behind the world's missing works of art.Travel back in time to discover works of art that have vanished from the record, as well as those that went missing and have since been reclaimed or recovered. From the treasures of Tutankhamun to the altarpiece of Ghent, a missing Fabergé egg, and Vincent van Gogh's majestic Sunset at Montmajour, numerous masterpieces have disappeared throughout history as a result of theft, looting, natural catastrophe, or conflict... And some have resurfaced decades or even centuries later!Lost Masterpieces examines the unique story of the most significant of these artworks, the artists who created them, and those thought to be involved in their loss. It explores the various means by which museum curators and international crime investigators have unearthed missing treasures. It highlights the moral dilemma of museums that have profited from looted works of art and examines the recent "heists" made by some nations in an effort to regain their nation's stolen works of art.This awe-inspiring art history book - A selection of the most important "lost" cultural artefacts from ancient times to the present day- Features images of the artworks where available, or specially commissioned illustrations of them based on written accounts- Includes details of the ongoing debate about whether looted art should be returned to its country of originDelve into the mysteries of ancient Egyptian tombs, marvel at the hoards unearthed by archaeologists, and discover the skulduggery behind the disappearance of priceless Rembrandts and Vermeers, and see the world of art and antiquities in a whole new light! A must-have volume for adults and young adults with an interest in art, culture and history, whether you're an art or history student, a collector of art antiques, or you're simply a curious life-long learner, Lost Masterpieces is sure to delight.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, History, Art History

192 pages, Hardcover

Published August 4, 2022

About the author

Dorling Kindersley (DK) is a British multinational publishing company specializing in illustrated reference books for adults and children in 62 languages. It is part of Penguin Random House, a consumer publishing company jointly owned by Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA and Pearson PLC. Bertelsmann owns 53% of the company and Pearson owns 47%.

Established in 1974, DK publishes a range of titles in genres including travel (including Eyewitness Travel Guides), arts and crafts, business, history, cooking, gaming, gardening, health and fitness, natural history, parenting, science and reference. They also publish books for children, toddlers and babies, covering such topics as history, the human body, animals and activities, as well as licensed properties such as LEGO, Disney and DeLiSo, licensor of the toy Sophie la Girafe. DK has offices in New York, London, Munich, New Delhi, Toronto and Melbourne.

Source: Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Puck · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and concise overview of (in)famous pieces of art: infamous because they became known due to tragedy. Lost, Stolen, Damaged or Destroyed: where sometimes art has been restored (Statue of Vishnu) or recovered (The Death of Cleopatra), it's heartbreaking to read about beautiful works that we'll never see again (The Buddhas of Bamiyan).
I didn't always agree with the categories - The Parthenon Marbles are stolen, not damaged, and it's high time they're returned - but this still is a good book for art history-fans.

[Ken Sampson · Rating 3 out of 5]

[06 Mar 2025] A short, but informative book describing all the 'masterpieces' that have over the years been lost, mislaid, damaged or destroyed. Essentially one a page, a picture and brief description of what happened to it. A truly remarkable revelation that so much has been lost. It is a pick-up/put-down book which is easy to read. It has been well researched and is meticulously fair as it includes the who gambit of art from the mosaics of ancient times, the beautiful renaissance art to Tracey Emin's tent and Banksy's shedded heart. It also includes photographs of people smashing two thousand year-old vases purporting that to be art and photographs of the Taliban blowing up sculptures from the ancient world, which is clearly not art. It shows that the definition of art given by Andy Warhol is not far wrong. He said in 1966 that 'art is anything you can get away with.'

A interesting and informative book.

[Jaymee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun and informative read. It's a walkthrough on art history, but also the history of the world. Taking you to Russia, Cambodia, Russia, France, and just about anywhere, and showcasing the art and history of the Mesopotamian and Mesoamerican civilizations (among others), this book details all the different works of art that have been stolen, damaged, destroyed, etc. There's still hope that some or the works will be rediscovered, whereas some have been completely destroyed: militant groups like ISIS, protests (remember the recent protest on the Mona Lisa?), or by sheer stupidity: a drunken man smashing a vase in a museum, or the owner accidentally elbowing a painting (by Picasso, nonetheless). This was such a fun read because it dealt with political and religious wars, former and contemporary issues (like a statue depicting victims of the Tiananmen Square mysteriously dismantled in the University of Hong Kong just last year, now missing). There are also cases when the artists themselves deliberately detroy their work as it is part of the end product, while the infamous Ai Weiwei has three photographs of him dropping a 2000+ year old Chinese vase. You have to read the book to fully appreciate it. And though some have been labeled wrongly (for example destroyed, as opposed to being stolen), just reacquainting yourself with some of the most iconic works of art is enough to reignite your love for it. For who can avoid art, really? To avoid it is to avoid life.

[Luz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book captivatingly explores stories of art theft, destruction, and loss, showing that art's power comes from the value and significance people assign to it.

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise overview of many works of art that have been lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed. The coverage includes ancient and modern works, and incidents that happened from antiquity to the modern day. Not every artwork fits neatly into a single category, making placement a bit of a judgement call. The Amber Room is stolen, lost, and (probably) destroyed. The Parthenon marbles are both damaged and stolen. I didn't agree with every placement, but I wouldn't call any of them inaccurate. Each entry is pretty short, but I felt like most of them got the important information across. And a really fun read, even if it's also sometimes heartbreaking as well.

[Edie Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Lost Masterpieces” collects anecdotes about great works of art which were lost, stolen or damaged. Not as depressing as one would think, the book also tells us of art found, recovered and restored. It entertains and informs and would be perfect for sporadic readings.

Years ago I read a similar book called “The Museum of Lost Art”. It took a far more dismal direction, really giving a sense of our great loss. Less light hearted, I actually preferred “Lost Art” over “Lost Masterpieces” for its more serious approach.

[joanna]

I really, really liked this book! It was so fun interesting and a great introduction to art history which is something I’ve been wanting to learn more about. I wish it was more diverse in some of the artists it talked about, but I still learned a lot!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish that All the work discussed has a photo to show what was "lost"

[Amanda Witt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and concise reports about numerous artworks, paintings, sculptures that have been stolen, lost or destroyed. Some intentionally, others through acts like war and accidental fires.

[Fern Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to pick up and put down. Short fact filled sections reflecting on art that has been lost, stolen or destroyed. Very enjoyable and fun.

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short profiles of approx. 85 works of art and antiquity. Content is organized into four sections: lost, stolen, damaged, destroyed. Small format book.

[☆faithy☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay fineee, I guess I'll become an art detective 🙄

[Angharad Elin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. So interesting.

[AM · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delicious and informative tasting menu through art history recounting the discoveries, heists and destruction of some of the world’s greatest works - a fascinating read.

[Jean Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t you wish you thought of things like this and then took the time to string them together. I sure do.

[Charlotte Biddle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. Concise snapshots on lost, stolen, damaged and destroyed art works. Some interesting stories that make you want to learn more. I especially liked learning about the art heists. Didn't always agree with which category they were put in, difficult as some fall into multiple categories. Parthenon marbles are both damaged and stolen. Three works fits better in the mislaid category. Preferred the stolen, damaged and destroyed sections and struggled through the mislaid section.

[Moshita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rich in tales of stolen, destroyed, missing art pieces, this book enchantingly puts into perspective that art is powerful only because someone thinks it is powerful and invests in its value.