The Potential of Art History in Investigating the Smuggling of Cultural Property
Abstract
Abstract. This article provides a comprehensive theoretical and applied analysis of the potential of art history (art-historical expertise) within the forensic support framework for investigating the smuggling of cultural property. It is substantiated that, in such proceedings, the object of criminal encroachment has a “dual” nature–simultaneously a tangible item and a bearer of cultural and/or historical value, which increases the complexity of proof and necessitates the systematic use of specialized knowledge in the field of art. The article elucidates the content of art-historical knowledge as the scholarly basis for attribution, including the determination of authorship, time and place of creation, authenticity, state of preservation, cultural significance, and the value of relevant objects. It is proposed to distinguish different modes of applying such knowledge in investigations of cultural property smuggling, based on the criterion of procedural regulation, into procedural forms (forensic art-historical examination; involvement of a specialist in investigative (search) actions; ensuring proper documentation, packaging, and transportation of objects) and non-procedural forms (consultations, preliminary examinations, and reference-and-information checks using museum, archival, cataloguing, and international databases, etc.). Drawing on law-enforcement practice, the study illustrates the phased use of art-historical skills in typical investigative scenarios–from the initial identification of an item within the customs control zone to obtaining an expert opinion–and highlights the importance of an integrated approach combining art-historical and related expert examinations (including, in particular, technical examination of documents) to counter the defence’s arguments. The article stresses the importance of clearly distinguishing between the state examination of cultural property and forensic art-historical examination, as well as the consultative and orienting activity of an art historian. Practical recommendations are formulated to optimize cooperation among the investigator, specialist, and expert, to ensure accurate formulation of expert tasks, and to reduce the likelihood of appointing additional or repeat examinations.
Keywords: art historian; investigative (search) action; forensic art-historical examination; archaeological find; icon.
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