The Duke of Wellington, Kidnapped! ─ The Incredible True Story of the Art Heist That Shocked a Nation

In 1961, a thief broke into the National Gallery in London and committed the biggest art heist in British history. He stole the museum’s much prized painting, The Duke of Wellington by Francisco Goya. Despite unprecedented international attention and an unflagging investigation, the case was not solved for four years, and even then, only because the culprit came forward voluntarily.

Kempton Buntonan elderly gentleman with no criminal backgroundclaimed he executed the theft armed with only a toy gun, a disguise purchased for five shillings, and a getaway car inadvertently provided by a drunkard. Shortly after turning himself in, Bunton also invoked language in an obscure law to maintain his innocence, despite the confession. He did not allege that the confession was false, but rather that stealing the painting did not constitute a crime because he intended to return it. On account of this improbable defense strategy, the story took another twist, resulting in a bizarre courtroom drama and extraordinary verdict -- not guilty of stealing the painting but guilty of stealing the frame.

Over fifty years later, Alan Hirsch decided to explore the facts behind this historic case and uncovered shocking new evidence. Kempton Bunton was innocent. As Hirsch immersed himself in British court documents, press archives and traveled deep into the heart of the art world, he resolved to solve the crime that riveted a nation.

Alan Hirsch, a writer and Visiting Professor at Williams College, received a J.D. from Yale Law School and an M.A. from Williams College in the History of Art. He moonlights as a trial consultant and expert witness on police interrogations and false confessions across the nation. In addition to numerous works of legal scholarship, Alan has writtenFor the People: What the Constitution Really Says About Your Rights (Free Press, 1998) andTalking Heads: Political Talk Shows and Their Star Pundits (St. Martin’s, 1991). His writing has appeared in theWashington Post, Los Angeles Times, Washington Times, Newsday, and theVillage Voice. He lives in Williamstown, Massachusetts.