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Framed
Framed blows the lid off one of Melbourne’s most puzzling secrets.
Who stole Picasso’s Weeping Woman from the NGV in 1986?
Written by the brother of the brilliant artist who was framed for the crime, it draws on never-before-revealed information told to the author before his brother died.
Framed is totally engrossing and highly controversial. It is at once a rollicking crime thriller, a vividly drawn period piece of mid-eighties Melbourne, and an exposé of the murky under-belly of the city’s art scene.
The narrative is entirely fictional, and yet it will send chills up the spine of any reader who remembers the theft of the Weeping Woman from the NGV in 1986, and the shadowy Cultural Terrorists, who claimed responsibility.
This, Stuart Rosson’s third book – written with vivid filmic immediacy and flashes of literary flair – is a gripping speculative account of Melbourne’s greatest unsolved crime. None of it may be true. But few readers will escape the sense that it might just be what really happened….
Who stole Picasso’s Weeping Woman from the NGV in 1986?
Written by the brother of the brilliant artist who was framed for the crime, it draws on never-before-revealed information told to the author before his brother died.
Framed is totally engrossing and highly controversial. It is at once a rollicking crime thriller, a vividly drawn period piece of mid-eighties Melbourne, and an exposé of the murky under-belly of the city’s art scene.
The narrative is entirely fictional, and yet it will send chills up the spine of any reader who remembers the theft of the Weeping Woman from the NGV in 1986, and the shadowy Cultural Terrorists, who claimed responsibility.
This, Stuart Rosson’s third book – written with vivid filmic immediacy and flashes of literary flair – is a gripping speculative account of Melbourne’s greatest unsolved crime. None of it may be true. But few readers will escape the sense that it might just be what really happened….
360 pages, Paperback
Published April 3, 2024
15 people want to read
About the author
Stuart Rosson
3 books3 followersAn ex-science journalist and naturopath, Stuart Rosson lives in Torquay, where he runs a guesthouse, writes fiction and surfs. His previous books form two parts of a post-apocalyptic action trilogy. His third book, Framed, is a fictionalised exposé of the theft of Picasso’s Weeping Woman in 1986.
Throughout the mid to late 80’s he was the science writer for the Sun News-Pictorial, covering news and features on science, health and medicine. Moving to the Surf Coast, in the early 90’s he worked as an operations manager, for a global surf company until 2001. After leaving the surf industry he studied natural medicine, and went on to practice as a naturopath until 2009.
His first book, East – a post-apocalyptic action adventure – was published in 2018. His second book, a prequel to East, and set in mid-21st century Melbourne, was all but completed, when he switched track to write Framed, the fictionalised ‘true’ story of the theft of Picasso’s Weeping Woman from the NGV in 1986 – a crime for which his brother was framed.
Throughout the mid to late 80’s he was the science writer for the Sun News-Pictorial, covering news and features on science, health and medicine. Moving to the Surf Coast, in the early 90’s he worked as an operations manager, for a global surf company until 2001. After leaving the surf industry he studied natural medicine, and went on to practice as a naturopath until 2009.
His first book, East – a post-apocalyptic action adventure – was published in 2018. His second book, a prequel to East, and set in mid-21st century Melbourne, was all but completed, when he switched track to write Framed, the fictionalised ‘true’ story of the theft of Picasso’s Weeping Woman from the NGV in 1986 – a crime for which his brother was framed.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 18, 2024
This is a fascinating account of the theft and reappearance of Picasso’s ‘Weeping Woman’ from the National Gallery of Victoria in 1986. It is reimagined through the writing of Stuart Rosson, who has unique insights into the story as he is the brother of Peter Rosson, who was ‘framed’ as the prime suspect for the theft and subsequent ransom notes issued by the ‘Australian Cultural Terrorists’. It’s often farcical, almost nostalgic, but ultimately quite sad. The Melbourne art scene of the 1980s is portrayed as being dominated by immature, incompetent and intimidating men, and the evocation of mid 1980s Melbourne (and Geelong) was enthralling. The characters are often thinly veiled versions of the original characters embroiled in the events of 1986, and I found myself constantly putting the book down so I could search the internet for the real details from the time.
July 1, 2024
This is a great read, that allows us to step into the 80’s Melbourne Art scene! Woven round the true incident of the theft of Picasso’s Weeping Woman, we are drawn into a plausible explanation of what may have happened and who was involved. The author delves into the themes of Art, forgery and the power dynamics of the varied characters through their reactions to the crime. This fictionalised account of a well known unsolved crime is a gripping fast paced read.
March 3, 2025
Star rating 3.5 🌟
An interesting read for me based on the novel is based on fact and written by the main character's brother. It was also of interest to me as this story's timeline occurred within my lifetime, and I have some loose memories of this story happening.
I enjoyed the fact I knew some of the locations mentioned.
Overall, I found the author's writing style and readability very good, although I did lose concentration at times as I found the pace too slow at times.
An interesting read for me based on the novel is based on fact and written by the main character's brother. It was also of interest to me as this story's timeline occurred within my lifetime, and I have some loose memories of this story happening.
I enjoyed the fact I knew some of the locations mentioned.
Overall, I found the author's writing style and readability very good, although I did lose concentration at times as I found the pace too slow at times.
May 31, 2024
A tight-paced read. Well-drawn characters and an engaging plot. It's always interesting when authors bend history. But how far has Stuart Rosson taken it? Because part of the true story about the missing painting involves Stuart's brother. That ups the ante and throws another light onto a decades-old subject. Told with wit, it's a great ride across the Melbourne art world of the 8o's.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews