Intent to Deceive: Why art forgeries are commanding top level security
The fakes and forgeries of the Art World are now on tour. There are 60 works - only 14 of them authentic - showing the genius of those who would imitate Matisse or Vermeer ...to name two. Today, we take a close look at the art of forgery and the deceptiveness of authentic art.
It was a forgery that fooled the art world for decades. And the man behind it was ... Han van Meegeren . He was a fabulous artist, creating many canvases that sold for breathtaking amounts. Although he rarely signed his paintings with his own name. The painting referred to in the Belgian documentary above, for instance, he signed "Vermeer."
Han van Meegeren used the names of other 17th century Dutch masters as well. There may be many fake Dutch masterpieces still on museum walls that were actually the cunning work of Van Meegeren in the last century. He was good.
Gallery goers will be able to check out his work for themselves at a new travelling exhibit that celebrates the work of the great forgers. What they may have lacked in originality, they made up for in skill, exuberance and unmitigated gall.
Colette Loll is the curator who put together the exhibit, Intent to Deceive: Fakes and Forgeries in the Art World. She's also an art fraud investigator and she joined us from our Washington studio. And to start off our segment we heard from Julia Courtney, curator of art at the Springfield Museums in Springfield Massachusetts, where they're just setting up for Intent to Deceive to open next week.
Some art critics argue forgeries can benefit the art world. Blake Gopnik is a contributing art critic at the Daily Beast, and is writing a biography of Andy Warhol.
He joined us from New York City.
Art forgeries have skewed auction prices and blighted art gallery walls almost as long as people have admired oil on canvas. But in the 21st century, a successful forger has to be more than just a skilled artist.
Jeff Taylor is the Assistant Professor of Arts Management at State University of New York and was a consultant on the Intent to Deceive forgery exhibit. He was in our New York studio.
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This segment was produced by The Current's Karin Marley.
Last Word: Art historian Lynn Catterson
Art historian Lynn Catterson, suggests one of the greatest artists in history may also have created one of the greatest fakes.
She believes Michaelangelo may have sculpted the Laocoön. If the work's name isn't familiar, the sculpture likely is -- the classical masterpiece of three men struggling against sea snakes now resides in the Vatican.
Many art experts doubt Michaelangelo could possibly be the sculptor. But-- it was re-discovered during his lifetime and it's the kind of challenge few other artists could tackle.
What's more, Lynn Catterson says he had the motive, the means and a previous history of faking. She outlined her theory for a History channel documentary. And if you're the kind of person who likes art conspiracies, this will be the kind of artistic conspiracy you'll like.