AES Journal Issue 7 Focuses on Criminal Illicit Art Market

The seventh edition of the AES ARTS+ECONOMICS journal delves into criminal activities within the art market, particularly the illegal trade of artworks and cultural assets, which ranks among the most lucrative crimes, alongside drug and arms trafficking. Contributions from legal professionals, law enforcement agencies (Comando Carabinieri per la Tutela del Patrimonio Culturale, Guardia di Finanza), and UNESCO focus on issues of cross-border trafficking and the retrieval of stolen items. It highlights the case of Lysippos' Victorious Athlete statue, which was recovered in 1964 and subsequently purchased by the Getty Museum, with Italy's Court of Cassation (Cass. pen. n. 22/2019) affirming its confiscation. The journal also features a Decalogue for acquiring contemporary art and legal evaluations of offenses under the Penal Code and Cultural Heritage Code, pointing out the lack of a cohesive legal system. An appendix mentions the 2018 RAI TV show "Petrolio. Ladri di Bellezza," which includes insights from Dr. Paolo Giorgio Ferri.