Friday Films: The Rape of Europa March 25, 2011

The Rape of Europa (Menemsha Films, 2006), 117 min
With special guest speaker Karen Daly, VMFA Registrar and Coordinator of Provenance Research
Directed by Richard Berge, Bonni Cohen, and Nicole Newman.
From the book by Lynn Nicholas
This is the famous and landmark documentary of the amazing mission of young art historians and curators of the United States and Allies military services to recover the artworks and cultural artifacts of Europe stolen by Adolph Hitler and the Nazis in World War II. Described as a “victory of beauty over horror,” the dedicated efforts proved to be as thrilling and drama-laden as fiction. Joan Allen narrates this breathtaking chronicle about the battle over the very survival of centuries of western culture. Karen Daly, Coordinator of Provenance Research of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, will appear in-person to speak and answer questions about the crucial procedures of protecting works of art and investigating their origins of ownership.

Official Website: http://www.vmfa.museum/Calendar_and_Events/Films/The_Rape_of_Europa.aspx