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.
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
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
rev. veronica walsh don
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.