At a glance
The Art of the Steal is a 2009 documentary directed by Don Argott about the disputed relocation of the Barnes Foundation’s art collection from Merion, Pennsylvania, to Philadelphia. The collection was described as a major holding of post-Impressionist art and was valued at at least $25 billion in 2009. Albert C. Barnes, who died in 1951, had chosen Lower Merion Township as the collection’s location. The film presents the move as a breach of Barnes’s will and traces what it portrays as a decades-long effort, begun by Barnes’s opponents in Philadelphia and continued by their heirs. The collection was relocated to Philadelphia in 2012. Made in the United States and in English, the film focuses on the conflict surrounding the foundation’s move and the intentions Barnes had set out for its location.
Who it is for
This suits viewers interested in art collections, museum disputes, and the history of the Barnes Foundation. It may also interest students studying documentary treatments of contested cultural decisions.
What is good
- Directed by Don Argott
- Focuses on the Barnes Foundation relocation
- Covers the will dispute presented in the film
- Made in the United States
What to know first
- The account presents a contested interpretation of events
Verdict
The Art of the Steal centers on a specific dispute over the Barnes Foundation’s collection and location. It is a documentary option for viewers interested in art and the conflict surrounding the move.
Details
- Year
- 2009wikidata.org · 3 Oct 2026
- Director
- Don Argottwikidata.org · 3 Oct 2026
- Country
- United Stateswikidata.org · 3 Oct 2026
- IMDb
- tt1326733wikidata.org · 3 Oct 2026
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- Documentaries of the 2000s in 20264066 listed
- Documentaries Directed by Don Argott4 listed
Sources
- wikidata.org/wiki/Q7714539· checked 3 Oct 2026
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Art_of_the_Steal_(2009_film)· checked 2 Oct 2026