Among the destruction and devastation brought by World War II, a segment of the US army set out to track and recover masterpieces of art stolen by the Nazi’s. The story of James Rorimer, his fellow Monuments Men, and their hunt to rescue valued artworks tells one of many unique stories in World War II.
With Monuments Man: A Mission to Save Vermeers, Rembrandts, and Da Vincis from the Nazis’ Grasp now back in print, we are thrilled to welcome Louis, James Rorimer’s son, to walk us through his father’s life and work.
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About the Book:
A classic now back in print and enriched with new imagery, James J. Rorimer’s riveting first-hand account takes readers on a treasure hunt as he follows the Allied troops across France and Germany to save Nazi-stolen masterpieces of art.
James J. Rorimer, former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, became a leading figure in the art recovery unit known as the Monuments Men, an elite group imbedded in the US Army, who risked their lives during World War II to save Europe’s greatest artworks from Hitler’s grasp. In the film Monuments Men, Matt Damon’s character is based on Rorimer as he embarks on the world’s most dangerous real-life hunt for stolen artworks with the goal of locating, seizing, and returning the works to their original holders, including museums and private collectors.
This new edition of a book first published in 1950 includes the original illustrations from the first edition plus a wealth of new imagery and ephemera uncovered during extensive research, including WWII photographs, many taken by Rorimer himself, that are accompanied by gorgeous reproductions of many of the Old Masters Rorimer helped save by artists such as Rembrandt, Leonardo da Vinci, Bruegel, Vermeer, Goya, Velazquez, and van Eyck. Maps created specially for this volume, and other facts about WWII history and geography, add new dimension to a remarkable story of courage, perseverance, and ultimately, triumph.
About the Author:
James J. Rorimer was curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art until 1955 when he was made director of the museum, a position he held until his death in 1966. Rorimer’s children, Louis and Anne Rorimer, collaborated to co-author this brilliant new edition of Monuments Man. Anne Rorimer is an art consultant. Louis Rorimer is a lawyer by profession.