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The extraordinary life and crimes of heiress-turned-revolutionary Rose Dugdale, who in 1974 became the only woman to pull off a major art heist. In the world of crime, there exists an unusual commonality between those who steal art and those who repeatedly kill: they are almost exclusively male. But, as with all things, there is always an outlier--someone who bucks the trend, defying the reliable profiles and leaving investigators and researchers scratching their heads. In the history of major art heists, that outlier is Rose Dugdale. Dugdale's life is singularly notorious. Born into extreme wealth, she abandoned her life as an Oxford-trained PhD and heiress to join the cause of Irish Republicanism. While on the surface she appears to be the British version of Patricia Hearst, she is anything but. Dugdale ran head-first towards the action, spearheading the first aerial terrorist attack in British history and pulling off the biggest art theft of her time. In 1974, she led a gang into the opulent Russborough House in Ireland and made off with millions in prized paintings, including works by Goya, Gainsborough, and Rubens, as well as Lady Writing a Letter with her Maid by the mysterious master Johannes Vermeer. Dugdale thus became--to this day--the only woman to pull off a major art heist. And as Anthony Amore explores in The Woman Who Stole Vermeer, it's likely that this was not her only such heist. The Woman Who Stole Vermeer is Rose Dugdale's story, from her idyllic upbringing in Devonshire and her presentation to Elizabeth II as a debutante to her university years and her eventual radical lifestyle. Her life of crime and activism is at turns unbelievable and awe-inspiring, and sure to engross readers.… (more)
User reviews
The Russborogh house in Ireland was quite a jewel. A palacial residence containing a trove of outstanding paintings. Rose, with the help of a few hired miscreats broke into this incredible English countryside house and stole 19 art works, including an exceedingly high value of VerMeer's, "Lady Writing a Letter With Her Maid.”
Hailing from an upper class family, Dugdale was schooled in art and knew which paintings were of the highest value. In addition to the VerMeer, she acquired by theft, paintings by Gainsborough, Velazquez, Hals, Guardi, Goya and Rubens.
Her ransom message was clear in wanting a half million Irish pounds and the release of the Price sisters, Dolours and Marian who were on a hunger strike in an English prison. Serving life sentenses for their exploits of bomings in England, they were well known as leaders in the IRA causes.
She was found and the art works were returned, The VerMeer had some water damage, but that was repairable.
Interestingly, a housewife who had physic abilities predicted that the painting would be found in a cemetary. And, that is where it was found.