The looting of art in history

War is terrible. It leads to loss of life and property and, often, to the destruction of culture and to the looting of art. The issue of looted art in history is the subject of a panel discussion at the museum.

About a decade ago, the topic of looted art came to the forefront of public discussion thanks in part to the George Clooney film The Monuments Men. It dealt with art looting during World War II, but the practice is perhaps as ancient as war itself. 

It was certainly standard practice 400 years ago during one of the most destructive conflicts in European history - the Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648). During this conflict, the victors took ownership of astounding collections of artworks and books. Due to the countless transfers of art objects, which sometimes even changed hands and locations several times, looted art from that period became a significant part of Europe’s common cultural heritage.

Bellum et Artes (War and Arts), the museum’s current temporary exhibition, which delves into these issues, will be the starting point of a panel discussion on the topic of looted art in history on the evening of Wednesday, 4 December. 

An art dealer, a lawyer and an art historian - Patrick Mestdagh, Marie-Sophie de Clippele and Susanne Jaeger - will discuss the topic at the House of European History for about an hour and a half and will then take questions from the audience. Art journalist, Catherine Hickley, will moderate the discussion, which will be in English. 

Bellum et Artes focuses on the role of the arts during the Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648). The exhibition, which runs until early 2025, tackles the relationship between conflict and artistic expression. It explores how the warring parties used the arts to demonstrate their power and examines how works of art documented and commented on the events of war. 

To attend, registration is necessary.