Caravaggio’s Cardsharps On Trial – Andrew Onslow QC and Richards Edwards QC feature in new book

A new book by Professor Richard Spear, who appeared as an expert witness in Thwaytes v Sotheby’s [2016] 1 WLR 2143, gives a fascinating blow-by-blow account of the trial, in which 3VB’s Andrew Onslow QC and Richard Edwards QC (then still a junior) successfully defended Sotheby’s against the charge that they negligently failed to identify a copy of Caravaggio’s famous early painting The Cardsharps as an autographed replica by the man himself. Described in The Washington Post as “a humdinger” and “a masterpiece of Tacitus-like force, clarity and precision”, it is published by The Burlington Press, an imprint of the authoritative Burlington Magazine, which also published the first in-depth article on the genuine Cardsharps shortly after its re-discovery in the 1980s.

Richard and Andrew commented, “This is a beautiful book, richly illustrated and with hugely erudite and informative introductory chapters. “It’s strange reading a book that deals at length with one’s own performance as an advocate – but I enjoyed reliving the drama and feeling again the heat of battle!”. “I was sorry to find no reference to the rather good joke I made in closing submissions – perhaps it wasn’t so funny after all”.

Andrew and Richard are both recognised as leading practitioners in Art & Cultural Property Law in the Chambers & Partners UK Bar Guide, the Chambers High Net Worth Guide and both ranked Tier 1 in The Legal 500.

A copy of the book can be purchased directly from the publisher here: https://shop.burlington.org.uk/product/CARDSHARPS