Comments on: Review: Chasing Aphrodite, Jason Felch and Ralph Frammolino

By: Margaret Ellen Mayo, PhD

Margaret Ellen Mayo, PhD — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:33:54 +0000

The authors of this book bill themselves as a reporter and former reporter for the L.A.Times, yet on page 45 they did not follow the basic publishing protocol of checking a quote with the person to whom they attributed it. I NEVER
HAD ANY KNOWLEDGE OF FUNDS PASSING BETWEEN MCNALL AND FREL.

I now wonder how many more unchecked “facts” are in the book.

By: Fyrefly

Fyrefly — Mon, 30 May 2011 18:03:19 +0000

I do love museums, and I also really enjoy these kinds of behind-the-scenes books, so this looks really interesting! It’d be a neat counterpoint to the book I read last year about the acquisition (read: hunting and taxidermy) of the animals for the AMNH’s Hall of African Mammals.

By: Meghan

Meghan — Thu, 26 May 2011 17:17:13 +0000

There is a date limit on it that changed more than once over the course of the book, though unfortunately it’s been a while so I can’t remember it (and sadly I read this on Kindle and don’t know how long it would take me to find out), so yes you’re right, otherwise most of the top museums would be considerably emptier. That doesn’t stop some countries from asking for their artifacts back. Greece and the British Museum have had some ongoing disputes over the Parthenon marbles.

By: Meghan

Meghan — Thu, 26 May 2011 17:10:22 +0000

They do suggest that looted art shot museums to fame faster, yes. If you didn’t have the next big thing you were off the map – and the Getty was in a position to get the next big thing through looting even as they were saying the complete opposite.

By: Danielle

Danielle — Thu, 26 May 2011 15:48:57 +0000

“[T]op museums do now have policies against looted art and have begun returning stolen artifacts to Italy and Greece”. I imagine this mainly applies to later acquisitions? The term “looting” easily lends itself to interpretation. Strictly applied, it could empty archaeological and ethnological departments of museums all over the west.

By: heidenkind

heidenkind — Wed, 25 May 2011 21:09:15 +0000

Sounds like an important book to read! Although I have to say I’m not entirely surprised… I’ve heard of some pretty sketchy things happening in museums to inflate the value of artwork, cuddle up to donors, and make money. People who deal in art and antiquities are no more immune to greed than any other industry!

I’m curious, does the author suggest (or say outright) that the Getty’s sketchy practices might have contributed to its success?

By: zibilee

zibilee — Tue, 24 May 2011 14:59:04 +0000

I had no idea that this was how many museums got their art! It sounds like a fascinating book that would really be an eye-opener for me, and I thank you for your detailed review of it. This sounds like one that I shouldn’t pass up!

By: Pam (@iwriteinbooks)

Pam (@iwriteinbooks) — Tue, 24 May 2011 10:34:29 +0000

Wow…as a museum lover but self-proclaimed, armchair anthropologist, I find this totally appalling! I LOVE learning through museums but I’m just astounded that this is still going on. Not that I condone its EVER happening but still. Yikes! This looks like a great read considering my interest but I’m sure it’s going to be a hard one to swallow, too. Thanks for the review….I think! ;O)