Art News Galore

Germany stumbles on world’s biggest art fraud

Filed under: Art crime — Alan @ 9:15 pm

When prosecutors in Stuttgart, Germany, started investigating a minor art-forgery in December 2008, it did not occur to them that they were about to unravel what could be one of the biggest art frauds in recorded history. The case started with an investigation of 13 suspected fake sculptures promoted as Alberto Giacometti’s work. Soon, however, Stuttgart prosecutor’s office conducted a wider investigation.

The prosecutors were prompted by the extent to which the alleged fraudster went in order to bestow feigned authenticity on the materials – the alleged fraudsters have even published books to support their claims.

In August 2009, the investigation lead to the finding of almost 1,000 fake sculptures along with their forged supporting documents, all claimed to be Giacometti’s. Soon, police uncovered another 150 sculptures.

According to the Stuttgart prosecutor’s office, more fake pieces remain uncovered. Notably, the prosecutors have pressed charges of selling fake pieces against the five defendants, but none were charged for producing the fakes. Who created these pieces is still an open question that the investigation is yet to find

Some believe the fakes were made in China, but prosecutors believe it is most likely to be in EU zone because of its open borders, which makes it easier for the pieces to travel unchecked across Europe.

The investigation is still ongoing, and the prosecutors believe that the fraudsters have handled fakes attributed to at least on other artist, based on the findings of the first investigation. They believe, however, that the production has now stopped where fake Giacometti’s are concerned.

The recovered fake sculptures are of poor quality, and would not have fooled any serious collector, according to experts who studied the seized sculptures. They believe that the buyers were most likely inexperienced people who had the notion of buying art work at a relatively low price.

National Gallery shows off fakes

Filed under: Exhibitions — Alan @ 6:12 pm

The National Gallery opened a new exhibit that will help educate visitors on how to spot the difference between fakes and real paintings.  The gallery will show the use of new technology to help prevent mistakes made in the past when dupes were purchased.

Called ‘Close Examination- Fakes, Mistakes, and Discoveries,’ the highlights techniques that are used to prevent and detect art fraud by conservators, scientists, and art historians.

One painting on display as a fraudulent purchase is ‘A Man with a Skull’ which when was purchased was thought to be painted by Hans Holbein.  The painting was purchased in mid 19^th century but tree ring dating showed that the painting was from after Holbein died.

The gallery also made a mistake when they purchased two Botticellis from the estate of Alexander Barker only to find that one of the paintings was in fact not a Botticelli.

Even though in the present day modern methods such as X-ray images and infrared imaging have helped identify paintings, fakery is still a large problem throughout the art world.

Marjorie Wieseman, exhibition co-curator, stated that it is now very hard to sell a fake because the art world is getting better at identifying forgers, but art is getting more expensive therefore the temptation and rewards for forgers is getting higher.

The art exhibition also shows how over time pieces of art are altered to fit the current standards of the time.

For example, ‘Woman at a Window,’ a painting from the 16^th century was first painted with blonde hair and a sultry appearance, but she was altered during the Victorian ages to meet the more restrained tastes.