The art of the faker

Press, 23 September 1983, Page 15

The art of the faker

In the world of art, the work of the great and good changes hands for staggering sums of money. Indeed, the price of a masterpiece is only within the grasp of the very wealthiest private collector, museum or national institution. But, even in the most prestigious auction houses people have paid millions of dollars for paintings which are not what they seem. Rarely a year goes by

without the art world being thrown into turmoil as yet another acclaimed masterpiece is designated a fake. In the 19305, the Dutchman, van Meegeren, fooled the experts with his “Vermeers.” In the 1960 s a Texan millionaire’s private collection of 44 modern masters — such as Picasso, Degas, and Matisse — were all fakes. More recently in Britain the painter, Tom Keating, admitted producing

2000 fakes. He was charged with fraud, and won considerable sympathy for his cheerful contempt for those who had been taken in.

In “The Art of the Faker” (National programme, 9.15 a.m. tomorrow) Sarah Dunant hears from art critics, auction house experts, and the fakers themselvers, to give a glimpse of how the art world gets its fingers burnt.