Gary Vikan's Blog

In his column for The Baltimore Sun, Dan Rodricks combined a glowing review of my newest book, “The Holy Shroud: A Brilliant Hoax in the Time of the Black Death,” with analysis of the Senate Intelligence Committee’s report about the “Russian hoax” of 2016. Read his column for the full discussion.

I spoke with Menachem Wecker of Religion News Service on "How the Black Plague Turned the Shroud of Turin into a Beloved Relic."

The question we face today: What will emerge to give people comfort and hope during these times of stress?

Want to hear the grimy details behind my search for the truth about the Shroud of Turin? Join me on Thursday, June 4th at 7 pm for a virtual book launch for "The Holy Shroud: A Brilliant Hoax in the Time of the Black Death." The wonderful Tom Hall from Baltimore's NPR station, WYPR, will be hosting. I will read a brief excerpt of the book, do some Q and A with Tom, and open the field to audience Q&A. 

Join us on Zoom by registering at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIqde6qqDIsGNH24BW5CfLr2e5Om_lTkZud.

I promise the book isn't so much about the Black Plague that it will be difficult to read right now, but perhaps society's response to the Black Plague has something to teach us about what we are going through with Covid-19. 

Can't make the virtual launch, or want to book a custom event for your organization, school, or book club? Please contact me. I would be happy to set something up. I am sad that I won't be able to do a book tour like I did with my last book, "Sacred and Stolen," and I have a lot of time on my hands!  

And of course, if you want to purchase the book, you can buy it here:

Amazon

Barnes&Noble

Indiebound

Ever since I found a discarded ad for a cheap replica of the Shroud of Turin while walking to work in DC nearly four decades ago, I have been fascinated by the mythos and history of the Shroud of Turin. Millions of people have gone on pilgrimages to see the Shroud in person, believing it to be the true burial cloth of Jesus bearing a miraculous image of him in death. 

However, I knew right away that the Holy Shroud was the fake, for the simple reason that it does not fit into the chronology of Christian relics or iconography, and because it appears for the first time in the historical record in 14th century France. Over the past 35 years, I've been on a quest to prove it.

Finally, with the help of a brilliant scientist, I am able to answer the questions of when, why, by whom, and how the Shroud was made.

Of course, finding those answers was just the first step: next, I had to write the book, and convince a publisher to risk the wrath of millions of Shroud believers by publishing it. 

I am excited to announce that Pegasus Books will be publishing “The Holy Shroud: A Brilliant Hoax in the Time of the Black Death” in May 2020. You can already preorder it from Amazon or Indiebound, and add it on Goodreads as “Want to Read.” Pegasus editor Jessica Case, an art history enthusiast, is the perfect advocate for this book. Thanks to my agent, Laura Strachan, for believing in me and making the connection. And to my editor, Tracy Gold.

I’m especially excited about the cover that the Pegasus design crew came up with. 

I can’t wait for this book to be out in the world, debunking the centuries-long hoax of the Shroud. And bringing on an onslaught of criticism from the “shroudies”!

Should art be returned to its location of origin? It depends on how that art was obtained. I weigh into the discussion in the CBC radio segment below.

Stolen art is still sold at high prices and displayed at elite museums. Museums should welcome “sleeper claims” as motivation to discover where their art came from, and whether they are displaying looted art.

I have been busy writing, speaking, and traveling so far this year, with excursions to Minnesota, Stockholm, the Pacific Coast, Paris, and Normandy. I've been enjoying art, history, and of course, fishing with my five-year-old grandson. 

I'll have more news coming soon, but below are a few highlights.

I talked with Eurobsit about how expert human eyes are the best technology to spot fake art and antiquities.

On October 10th, I'll be in southern Maryland, talking about "Inside Jobs" at the Historic Sotterley Plantation. I'll discuss some museum thefts that I wrote about in my book "Sacred and Stolen," including one that took me six decades to solve.

I have an essay called "Sanborn's Provocation" in the publication associated with a show that opens at the American University's Catzen Arts Center on September 4th. The show is called  "Without Provenance: The Making of Contemporary Antiquity."

Photos of note

"Renoir Girl" at the Stockbridge Library in Massachusetts

"The Shroud of Turin: Mystery Solved" at Duke University, Nasher Museum of Art

Fishing in Minnesota

In Rome

Headline from France: "This American Does Not Believe in the Shroud"

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City recently announced that they would be charging an admissions fee for out-of-state visitors. I spoke with Daniel Grant from Observer about the change, and reflected on making The Walters Art Museum Free. 

I'm still enjoying doing talks and readings for Sacred and Stolen, as well as talking about a passion of mine, the Shroud of Turin. 

I have a reading upcoming at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts on 10/15 at 2:30 pm. I'll be talking about Sacred and Stolen. 

I have also been speaking at various places this fall, and I'll have more details to come. I've been to Old St. Paul's, Homeland 3 Arts, and Wednesday Club. Tonight, I'm headed to Chestnut Grove Presbyterian Church, and on 10/10, I'm headed to Charlestown Retirement Community. I'll update here when I have more news. 

If you'd like to bring me in for a talk about the inner workings of museums, the Shroud of Turin, Elvis, or a wide variety of subjects within the fields of art and history, please contact me. I'd be happy to set up a talk or reading!

I talked with David Skinner of Humanities magazine about the backstage intrigue of working at a museum, as portrayed in Sacred and Stolen.