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 Rose Valland's THE ART FRONT 

More than four decades after the passing of Monuments Woman Captain Rose Valland (1898–1980), one of the great heroines of World War II, the Monuments Men and Women Foundation released the first-ever English translation of her 1961 memoir, The Art Front: The Defense of French Collections 1939-1945.

 

The quiet bravery of this warrior for the arts emerged during the German occupation of Paris. In late 1940, the Nazis commandeered the Jeu de Paume Museum and converted it into their looting headquarters for works of art being stolen from Jewish collectors and dealers. As a curator at the Jeu de Paume, Valland worked under the watchful eye  of the Nazis, all the while risking her life to secretly gather information about their looting operation. Her meticulous records about the tens of thousands of stolen works would later prove instrumental in their recovery, making her one of the most significant figures in the preservation of our shared cultural heritage during World War II.

During her lifetime, Valland tried to have her book translated into English; however the challenges of translation and distribution proved insurmountable. Our team’s mastery of the subject, with the invaluable input of art historian and Rose Valland expert, Ophélie Jouan, not only resulted in a faithful translation of Rose Valland’s text, but also provided a modern perspective that enables readers to appreciate the full context of the risks she took and the triumphs that resulted.

The Art Front includes an introduction by Foundation founder and chairman, Robert M. Edsel, world-leading expert on the Monuments Men and Women, and more than one-hundred images, maps, and a glossary.

The Art Front book

Just Released!

"Valland’s is a richly textured, keenly observed, often harrowing account, suffused with courage and modesty. Anyone with even a passing interest in the subject is going to want to read it." -- The Wall Street Journal
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Limited Edition!

For a unique addition to your library collection or a special gift, we created also a collectible edition of only 1,000 copies.

This edition enhancements include:​

  • Fabric slipcase

  • Gold leaf printing

  • Satin ribbon

  • Hand-numbered plate

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“To all those who fought during the last war to save a little of the World's beauty.”
Monuments Woman Rose Valland in The Art Front

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  EARLY SUPPORTERS  

The Monuments Men and Women Foundation wishes to recognize the individuals and organizations whose generous early support has been instrumental in turning this project from a dream into a reality.

 

Christie's

Platt Richmond PLLC

Treasures Estate Concierge Services, Inc.

Ann Griffith Ash

Nancy Best

Laura Bley and the Bley Family

Anna Bottinelli

Stephan Courseau for Le Bilboquet, Dallas

Robert M. Edsel

Alain Kahn, in memory of his officier Beaux-Arts aunt and godmother, Suzanne Kahn, née Brunswick

The Honorable Sara Kate Shock & Peggy Dean

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   SUPPORTERS  

Anonymous

Cecilia Anastos

Richard Aronowitz

Dennis Arrobbio in loving memory of my mother Norma

Kimberly A Babin

Patty Bass

Oron Lamar Bass

Hayden Bassett

Andres Bendeck-Cassis

Mattia Bertoldi

Darlene Alexis Bialowski

Gary Bobalik

Stephen H. Borkowski

Eileen Brankovic

Miranda K. Browning

Anne Butler

ALICE CAHN

Emily R Chickadel

Bonnie Cochard

Gabriella Corey

Laura Danguillaume-Blanckaert

Dr. KATHLEEN DECKER

MD Museum

Sarah Done

Nancy Donelon

Raymond J. Dowd

Amelie Ebbinghaus

Teresa Echeverria

Ms Lisa Kartes Elley

Elke Ereshefsky

Fairhill Auction LLC

Lauren Farrington

Janice Louise Feheley

Danielle Lauren Fein

The Honorable David S. Ferriero

Christopher L. Flores

Elizabeth L Ford

The Grunbaum Fischer Foundation, Inc.

Douglas & Sylvia Freeswick

Alexis George

John Gerbracht

Jona Goldschmidt, in memory of grandparents Fritz and Thea Goldschmidt

Sara Goodman

Simon Goodman

Lawrence Graham, CD

A. Hall, M.A.

Ms. Vicky Hardway

Claudine Hemingway

Bill Holmes

Amanda Lynn Hutchison

Lori Hyland

Susan Turpin Illner

Angela M Johnson

Gail Joice

Paula Katz

Jedd Keith and Dr. Elizabeth Purcell-Keith

Alex and Louisa Keith

Catherine M. Kesseler

Shelby Landgraf

Dr. Lindsey D. Larberg

Thomas F. Lee

Andrea Lehmann

John Lee Liffiton

Ms. Madeleine Sherwood Lill

Tristan B. Linehan

David A. Lyon, IV

Mike and Dixie Madigan

Meagan McGowan

Jennifer L. McIlrath

Elaine McKenna

Lori A. and Lee D. McLaughlin

David Mikutis

Kevin and Rebecca Morrow

Maria Cristina Moscatelli

Erin Napier

Susan Nelson, in honor of Lt Col Ernest DeWald MFAA

Emilie A. Noble

Karen R. Olson

Jeanette Panning

Victoria Pap

KATHARINA PENNOYER

Kate Montague Perry

Elinore C. Peters

Beth Petriello

Margaret Farmer Planton

Leigh and Cam Plummer

Michael Jerome Plunkett

Victor A. Pollak

Marc Porter

Sophie Raobeharilala

Beth Reichman

Dr. Leslie Elaine Reid

Kelly Rennie

Bruna Robbiani Bottinelli

Haley Roberts

Ilne and Kai Roemmelt

Rebecca Rogers

The Rohan Foundation

Jim Rosati

The Rygiel Family

R. David Ruzomberka

Carol Safran

Duncan Saunders

Alex Benjamin Scharr

Jacques Schuhmacher

Nina Senger

Carla Rose Shapiro

Casey L. Shelton

Lucian J Simmons

John Thomas Smith

Jim Stone

JANA KATHARINA SUESS

Tony Sundstrom

Karolina Svobodova

Georgina H. Tall

Tricia A. Thomas

Kerry Toggweiler

The Turner Family

Paul Verrell

Irene Vlitos Rowe

CPT Jessica L. Wagner

Susie Seaton Walls

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Jennifer Case Webb

Florina Weber
Shannon Weiss

Johanna Werner

Joy Wolfe

David Karl Yatsu

We extended our thanks also to the people below who, with gifts of different size, all contributed to the success of this project.

  EARLY SUPPORTERS  

  EARLY SUPPORTERS  

  EARLY SUPPORTERS  

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