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Business Daily: The business of art

Edvard Munch's The Scream hangs in a gallery, people (out of focus) in front

22/11/2012

The business of art

BBC World Service - Business Daily, The business of art

Stealing art is not only wrong, it is also bad business. You won't make any money.

Advice for criminals: don't steal art. Not just because it is wrong - you also won't make any money.  We explain why and discover that art usually makes a very bad investment.

Today we explore a unique market - the market for art. The world's greatest paintings may be incredibly valuable but don't bother trying to steal one - you won't make any money, as Justin Rowlatt discovers. 

He interviews former FBI agent Robert Wittman who's gone undercover to recover some of the most famous stolen artworks and who says that most criminals don't make a cent even from the most high profile heists.

We visit the greatest art gallery in the world - it's in Geneva - but one you'll never see inside.

Plus, we hear from Thomas Galbraith, of the artnet website, that despite the incredible sale prices of many artworks, art usually makes a very poor investment.

(Image: Edvard Munch's The Scream hangs in a gallery, people in front, Credit: Getty Images)

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