I had a question recently from a reader who asked how I came to write Deadly Provenance.  Here’s my story.

Since I write historical mysteries but solve them with modern technology, I first needed a time period for a backdrop.  I was always fascinated by the Holocaust and the horrors of WWII.  As a museum professional, I happened upon a book called The Lost Museum by Hector Feliciano.  It’s the story about the systematic plundering of Jewish-owned artwork by the Nazis.  I was hooked.  I read many books to follow, one of which you may be familiar with: The Rape of Europa by Lynn Nicholas. (Since then there have been popular books and movies on the subject: The Monuments Men, The Woman in Gold.)

I pondered a storyline. What about a particular piece of art that was stolen from its Jewish owners, but to this day, has never been seen again?  Add to that a 1940s photograph of the said painting that comes to light 70 years later.  Can the painting be authenticated by analyzing a photograph?

How did I begin research on this book?  I needed a missing painting, the mystery for the historic story, and state-of-the-art digital photography techniques to resolve the crime years later.  I started with the backdrop: France during the German occupation and discovered this incredible true story.

The Bernheim-Jeunes, a French Jewish family, were collectors.  They owned a painting by Vincent van Gogh, one of my favorite artists, called Still Life: Vase With Oleanders. When the family learned they were about to be raided by the Nazis, they hid their collection with friends at the Chateau de Rastignac, outside of Bordeaux.  However, in 1944, the Chateau was invaded, plundered, and razed to the ground.  No one knows whether the Van Gogh survived.  Was it stolen by a Nazi soldier?  A local citizen?  Did it burn with the Chateau?

Add to the back story several real-life characters like Rose Valland, an art curator who secretly catalogued all the Nazi loot, villains like Hermann Goering and Alfred Rosenberg, plus a master art

Confiscated degenerate art stored at Jeu de Paume. Photo: Archives des Musees Nationaux

forger: Han van Meegeren, and my back story was developing.

Research into the modern story was helped along by my museum associates.  My modern protagonist, a digital photographer, had to figure out a way to authenticate the painting from an old photograph.  Could it be done?  Yes, no, maybe.  Research is currently being done at Dartmouth and it looks like the answer is within reach.  Since this is fiction, I can take a few liberties.

Thoughts welcome.