"Who is Robert Goldman?"

Here’s what others say

“…one of the most respected art legal experts in the world…”
-Park West Gallery

“The guy is tenacious,” Wittman say of his former partner, “He gets 10 times better when there is any kind of adversarial situation. He is the best guy in court I have ever seen.”
-Philadelphia Super Lawyers

“A Teddy Roosevelt campaign poster hangs above his desk. Wooden billy clubs, British bobby helmets and an oil portrait of an admiral from the Spanish-American War clutter the far wall. Engraved in a bronze plaque by the door are Roosevelt’s words: ‘Aggressive fighting for the right is the noblest sport the world affords.’
If any motto sums up Goldman’s passion for recovering stolen history, this is it.”
-Hartford Courant

 

Here’s what he says

“Collecting is a science that blinds the conscience and steals the soul.”

“I just don’t like losing…What motivates me is the job satisfaction and challenges—and art crimes is a very exciting field.”

“I have studied and conducted research on many fascinating historical figures, although Theodore Roosevelt stands out as an important figure. His quote, “The task of a true historian is bringing the past before our eyes as if it is the present,” is often used in court. It is certainly an overriding theme in my work.”

“Why is there so much art theft right now? It’s not so much that criminals like art. Criminals gravitate to wherever the money is.”

 

Here’s what he says about stolen art and artifacts

“When we recover these things, it lets future generations see, feel and touch the past. They provide a critical connection to past generations. These objects, whether General Meade’s sword from the Battle of Gettysburg or the Peruvian back-flap, show us how we became part of the civilization that we are. They teach us lessons of both our historical strengths and weaknesses.”
Antiques and the Arts

“In my experience, the recovery of various art and antiquities has been valued at over $150 million. While this amount more than justifies practicing this type of litigation, it’s even more important because of the historical significance of the recovered items. They are physical representations of a historic time period. Having them on display in museums and public institutions only helps us and future generations understand these cultures and appreciate history more…Some of the cases transcend economic loss because of the historical value of the objects in question.”

 

Here’s what Robert K. Wittman says about him

“Tell me more about your buyer.”
I moved to retake control of the conversation and caught his gaze. “The buyer is anonymous,” I said sternly. “That’s all you need to know.”
I turned to Garcia, the brains, and softened my tone. “Look, my buyer’s a collector. He likes gold. He likes anything made of gold. Let’s just call him the Gold Man.”
Garcia liked that. “Perhaps I can meet the Gold Man one day?”
“Maybe,” I said as we shook hands to leave. “Someday.”
I got to the van and dialed the Gold Man’s number.
A secretary came on the line. “U.S. Attorney’s Office. How can I help you?”
“Bob Goldman, please.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert E. Goldman was unlike any other federal prosecutor I’d met. He lived on a large working farm in Bucks County, north of Philadelphia, where he kept peacocks, horses, sheep, ducks, and dogs. Though Goldman came from a family of lawyers—and became one because it was expected from him–he liked to call himself a frustrated history professor. He wore a handlebar mustache in the style of his hero, Teddy Roosevelt, and at his home library, he stuffed his bookshelves with more than 150 Roosevelt titles. With an appreciation of history and culture, Goldman was precisely the kind of prosecutor I needed if I wanted to pursue art crime.”
-Robert K. Wittman, Priceless

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