BONUS: Introducing "The Professor"
Summary
This episode introduces William Verres, an antiquities dealer accused of leading a European art smuggling ring, who seeks to avoid extradition by helping recover a stolen Caravaggio. Host Simon Willis details Verres’ background and his alliance with art detective Arthur Brand to solve the 1969 theft. The narrative explores the Sicilian mafia’s role in the illicit antiquities trade and Verres’ audacious plan to trade information for leniency.
Topics discussed
Introduction: The Professor series and William Verres
The raid on Verres' home and his arrest
Simon Willis meets Verres and his background
Verres' early life and entry into antiquities
The illicit art trade in Sicily and the mafia
The 1969 theft of Caravaggio's Nativity
Francesco Marino Mannoia's confession
Verres' plan to recover the painting
Credits and closing remarks
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