The Art of the Con

1. Art forgery: A centuries-old practice driven by greed and ego

"I will astonish Paris with an apple!" Cézanne famously foretold, and that he did.

Motivation behind forgery. Art forgery has been a persistent issue in the art world for centuries, driven by a combination of financial gain and the forger's desire for recognition. Forgers often see themselves as unappreciated geniuses, capable of fooling experts and creating works indistinguishable from those of famous artists.

Historical context. Notable examples of forgery date back to Renaissance times, with even Michelangelo alleged to have created fake antiquities. The practice has evolved over time, with forgers adapting to new authentication techniques and targeting different artistic styles and periods. Modern forgers often focus on 20th-century artists due to the relative ease of replicating their styles and the high market value of their works.

2. The Beltracchi scandal: Exposing flaws in art authentication

"I am too good for them. That's their problem. And the problem is they think they can look at the painting and say 'that's this or that.' And therefore I have shown them a mirror, you know."

The master forger. Wolfgang Beltracchi, perhaps the most notorious forger of the 21st century, created hundreds of fake paintings attributed to famous artists. His scheme involved inventing a fictional collection, the "Jägers Collection," to provide provenance for his forgeries.

Unraveling the fraud. Beltracchi's downfall came through scientific analysis, which revealed anachronistic pigments in his works. This case highlighted the importance of combining connoisseurship with scientific methods in art authentication. The scandal exposed weaknesses in the art market's reliance on expert opinions and provenance documents, leading to increased scrutiny and improved authentication processes.

3. Knoedler Gallery fraud: When reputation trumps due diligence

"I tries [sic] to make it clear not to [sic] long ago that using IFAR was NOT a good idea. I told you from horror stories I know to be true regarding IFAR . . . What the hell were you thinking, or were you letting someone do your thinking for you."

A prestigious gallery's fall. The Knoedler & Company scandal involved the sale of millions of dollars worth of forged paintings, allegedly from a previously unknown collection. The gallery's president, Ann Freedman, maintained her innocence, claiming she believed the works to be authentic.

Lessons learned. This case demonstrated how even reputable institutions can fall victim to fraud when proper due diligence is not conducted. It highlighted the importance of:

• Thorough provenance research
• Scientific analysis of artworks
• Skepticism towards too-good-to-be-true discoveries
• The need for transparency in the art market

4. Larry Salander's Ponzi scheme: Betraying trust in the art world

"In my view you are the most dishonest and devious person I have ever dealt with."

A web of deception. Larry Salander, a prominent New York art dealer, orchestrated a massive Ponzi scheme involving the sale and resale of artworks, often without the knowledge or consent of their owners. His fraud affected numerous artists, collectors, and even celebrities.

Impact on the art world. Salander's case exposed:

• The vulnerability of artists and their estates to unscrupulous dealers
• The need for better oversight and regulation in the art market
• The importance of clear contracts and documentation in art transactions
• The potential for abuse in the consignment system

The fallout from this scandal led to increased scrutiny of art dealers and galleries, prompting calls for more transparency and accountability in the industry.

5. The vulnerability of renowned artists to theft and forgery

"Certainly not a pleasure," he said in his typically understated manner. Referring perhaps to both the ongoing litigation and the distress he had to feel over what had occurred in the past years, he added, "But I can't talk about it. I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to define it in any way."

Artists as victims. Even famous artists like Jasper Johns have fallen victim to theft and forgery by those close to them. Johns' assistant, James Meyer, stole artworks and sold them as authorized pieces, while foundry owner Brian Ramnarine created unauthorized copies of Johns' sculptures.

Protecting artistic legacy. These cases highlight:

• The need for artists to carefully vet and monitor those with access to their work
• The importance of proper documentation and inventory management
• The challenges of maintaining control over an artist's oeuvre, especially as they age
• The potential for abuse of trust in close working relationships within the art world

6. The Bakwin art theft: A 25-year saga of deception and recovery

"It was a very major decision of mine to sell it," he said. "The risk of damage of any kind or robbery just felt a little too high. Much as I would have loved to continue holding it, it seemed to me too important to have hanging in a modest apartment in Chicago."

A complex recovery. The theft of paintings from Michael Bakwin's home in 1978 led to a 25-year journey involving:

• The discovery of the paintings by the thief's lawyer, Robert Mardirosian
• Mardirosian's attempts to profit from the stolen art
• The involvement of the Art Loss Register in recovering the works
• Legal battles across multiple jurisdictions

Lessons for collectors. This case demonstrates:

• The importance of proper security measures for valuable art collections
• The challenges of recovering stolen art, even decades later
• The role of specialized organizations like the Art Loss Register in art recovery
• The potential legal and ethical pitfalls of possessing or attempting to sell stolen art

7. Televised art auctions: A new frontier for fraud

"Ms. Khan committed the crimes of conviction while suffering from extreme financial pressures that resulted from overwhelmingly large medical bills. Ms. Khan has no medical insurance, she turned 70 this year, and she [is] under a crushing debt from staggeringly high medical bills."

The Fine Art Treasures Gallery scam. Kristine Eubanks and her associates orchestrated a massive fraud through televised art auctions, selling forged and misattributed artworks to unsuspecting buyers. Their scheme involved:

• Creating fake provenance stories
• Misrepresenting the value and authenticity of artworks
• Using shill bidding to artificially inflate prices
• Exploiting the trust of viewers in televised auctions

Protecting consumers. This case highlights the need for:

• Greater regulation of televised and online art sales
• Education of consumers about the risks of buying art through non-traditional channels
• Improved verification processes for artworks sold through mass media
• Skepticism towards claims of newly discovered masterpieces or collections

8. eBay and online marketplaces: Breeding grounds for art scams

"Bidding is meant to be fun, but remember that each bid you place enters you into a binding contract. . . . If you win an item, you're obligated to purchase it."

The digital frontier of art fraud. Online marketplaces like eBay have become hotbeds for art scams, with fraudsters exploiting the platform's reach and the difficulty of authenticating artworks remotely. Notable cases include:

• The Walton Diebenkorn scandal, where a fake painting was nearly sold for millions
• Numerous instances of forged prints and drawings being sold as originals

Challenges and solutions. The rise of online art sales presents unique challenges:

• Difficulty in examining artworks in person before purchase
• Ease of creating fake provenance and documentation
• The global nature of online transactions complicating legal recourse

To combat these issues, online platforms have implemented:

• Improved reporting systems for suspicious listings
• Partnerships with art experts and law enforcement
• Enhanced buyer protection policies

9. Scientific advances in art authentication: A game-changer for detecting forgeries

"It is not simply the use of 'science' as it exists in the popular imagination, but a deep and rigorous interdisciplinary analysis of materials and historical technology that should be applied, and recognized, as the appropriate protocol in cases when potential forgeries are studied."

The role of science. Advances in scientific analysis have revolutionized art authentication, making it increasingly difficult for forgers to create convincing fakes. Key technologies include:

• Pigment analysis using spectroscopy and chromatography
• X-ray fluorescence for examining underlying layers and materials
• Radiocarbon dating for determining the age of materials
• Advanced imaging techniques for revealing hidden details and alterations

Combining expertise. The most effective approach to authentication involves:

• Collaboration between art historians, conservators, and scientists
• A holistic examination of an artwork's physical properties, provenance, and stylistic elements
• Continuous updating of databases and reference materials for comparison
• Development of new analytical techniques to stay ahead of forgers' methods

These advances have significantly improved the ability to detect forgeries and have forced forgers to become increasingly sophisticated in their techniques.

Last updated: May 20, 2025