The Caravaggio Conspiracy

by Peter Watson

As the subtitle explains it: How five art dealers, four policemen, three picture restorers, two auction houses and a journalist plotted to recover some of the world’s most beautiful stolen paintings.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Art History

321 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Peter Watson was educated at the universities of Durham, London and Rome, and was awarded scholarships in Italy and the United States.

After a stint as Deputy Editor of New Society magazine, he was for four years part of the Sunday Times ‘Insight’ team of investigative journalists. He wrote the daily Diary column of the London Times before becoming that paper’s New York correspondent. He returned to London to write a column about the art world for the Observer and then at The Sunday Times.

He has published three exposes in the world of art and antiquities and from 1997 to 2007 was a Research Associate at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research at the University of Cambridge. He has published twelve books of non-fiction and seven novels, some under the pen name of Mackenzie Ford. He lives in London where his interests include theatre, opera and fishing.

Awards, Etc.

Psychology Prize
Durham University, 1961

Italian Government Music Scholarship
Rome University, 1965

United States Government Bursary “for future world leaders”
To study the psychiatric profession and its links to the administration of justice

Books of the Year

Psychology Today Magazine, 1978, for War on the Mind
Daily Mail, 1990, for Wisdom and Strength
Independent on Sunday, for A Terrible Beauty, 2000
Times Literary Supplement, for Ideas, 2005
Time Magazine, for The Medici Conspiracy, 2006
Queen’s Pardon
Copy from Patrick Meehan after I had written a series of articles which brought about his release from prison after he had been wrongly convicted of murder, 1976.

Gold Dagger – Crime Writers’ Association of Great Britain
For The Caravaggio Conspiracy, 1983

Beacon Award – SAFE Award – Saving Antiquities for Everyone
For The Medici Conspiracy, 2006

US Library Association
The Great Divide.

Emmy Nomination
‘The Caravaggio Conspiracy, 1984.

Best sellers

The Caravaggio Conspiracy
Crusade
Landscape of Lies
Sotheby’s: The Inside Story
Nureyev
Lectures

Peter Watson has lectured at the following venues:

Universities

Cambridge
Berkeley
London
UCLA
Birmingham
Georgia
Georgia
Chicago
Birmingham
Santiago de Chile
York
Madrid
Harvard
Tufts
Military Bases

Fort Bragg
Private Institutions in

Cleveland
Berlin
Chicago
Belfast
Los Angeles
New York
Washington
Boston
Palm Beach
Other venues

Smithsonian Institution
National Museum, Copenhagen
Royal Society of Arts
Rugby School
Royal Library, Copenhagen
Festivals

Edinburgh
Oxford
Dartington
York

Reviews

[Clioidae · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is journalism, and is perhaps one of the most interesting and unexpected stories to come out of modern art investigation. As a fan of Peter Watson's work, but in no particular order, I would consider the fact that this narration seems a little choppy at some points to be the result of a newspaper man trying on the longer format of a book. However, that should not dissuade you from reading the true story he is putting forth.

I admired the strength of character and the righteous indignation of spirit that brought this book about, and was thrilled by it even as I read it.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful true story of undercover detective work to discover the underground, black market in stolen masterpieces. A true story that reads like a mystery.

[Patricia Lane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up at a library used book sale. It was an interesting read about a real sting operation that took place in the 1980's. One of the things it brought home to me was how different the world of art and art crime detection is today. When Peter Watson was trying to find the provenance of paintings that were being offered to his shady art dealer persona, he had to rely on Interpol and other published lists of stolen art, that were published infrequently, lacking images and woefully incomplete. That has changed so much - for the better! - the advent of the internet and such tools as the Art Loss Register.

[Alexasapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

The novel, written by a journalist (whose writing style I did not particularly care for), turned out to be an interesting trip into the world of art forgeries and theft.

I learned that not only is art theft common, but that it usually goes unpunished and unsolved. Based on a true story of plots and deceptions you have the pull of “will he be able to pull it off”.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author’s style of writing is very dry, no wonder he’s a journalist.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good thriller set in the art world - a few twists and turns to keep you on your toes and an easy enjoyable read - perfect for holidays

[Donna Morrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting introduction to the underbelly of the art word; forgery and the commerce in stolen pieces.