- Title: Plunder
- Date: 4th June 1995
- Summary: VENUS DE MILO: NW-J TELLS THE STORY OF HOW A SECOND-RATE STATUE - PLUNDERED BY THE FRENCH FROM THE SMALL AEGEAN ISLAND OF MILOS IN 1820 - HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS WORKS OF ART IN THE WORLD. IN THE NAPOLEONIC WARS THE FRENCH ACQUIRED MANY TREASURES FROM THE NATIONS THEY CONQUERED. PARIS BECAME THE ARTS CAPITAL OF EUROPE. THEN, IN 1815, WITH NAPOLEON'S DEFEAT AT WATERLOO, MANY TREASURES HAD TO BE RETURNED. THE FRENCH WERE HUMILIATED. THEY NEEDED A NEW MASTERPEICE FROM THE CLASSICAL AGE TO RESTORE THEIR SELF ESTEEM. THE VENUS DE MILO WAS FOUND, PLUNDERED AND BROUGHT TO PARIS AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME AND HAILED ACCORDINGLY. TROUBLESOME EVIDENCE THAT SHE WAS NOT IN FACT EVERYTHING THE FRENCH CLAIMED WAS CONVENIENTLY 'LOST'. NW-J DESCRIBES HOW THE VENUS WAS HYPED.
- Description:WE GO ON THE TRAIL OF THREE CELEBRATED MUSEUM MASTERPIECES TO FIND OUT HOW THEY ENTERED THEIR RESPECTIVE COLLECTIONS AND WHICH LAWS WERE BROKEN TO DO SO.
- Broadcaster:Channel 4
- Collection: Channel 4
- Genre:Documentary and Factual
- Producer:BRIAN LAPPING ASSOCIATES LTD
- Programme Episode:Episode 3
- Transmission Date:04/06/1995
- Rights:On Request
- Decade: 1990s