The study of art fraud…..……… From the earliest times where apprentice artists imitated and copied the work of their masters in order to learn skills, through time to the “modern day” where forgers flourish, using more sophisticated techniques to forge and infiltrate the art markets. Within the international art world, fraudulent works account for up to 10% of the market.
In response to the growing trend of art fraud, institutions are being established to help identify, control and eliminate it. This study on Art Fraud has concentrated on the material available using the world wide web. On many of the web sites available, research material is very extensive and many provide links to other sites and to recommended readings. The most creditable sites are supported by reputable referees, government listed or linked to museums. Key members of these organizations are regarded as highly respected members of the art world, such as professors at leading universities, museum directors, gallery directors, etc.
As mentioned in my previous blogs, my research is more comprehensive with investigation into the impact and incidences of art fraud within the international markets.
There are many organizations with links on the web that dedicate themselves to the research, identification, tracking, authentication, ownership and integrity in the visual arts.
This image shows an example available on the web of scientific analysis of artwork to identify art fraud.
"Madonna and Child with angels" showing scientific detection to identify art fraud, using 4 different techniques.
The Best sites on Art Fraud:
http://www.museum-security.org/forgery2.htm
An excellent site on all aspects of Art Fraud. Authored with references and links to numerous sites including from: Encyclopedias, Magazines, Newspaper articles, Art museums and galleries, Universities.
This site details: Famous art forgers with links to sites with information about each of the artists, articles about forgery (general), art fraud, authentication, copies and reproductions, encyclopedia articles, exhibitions/museums/education, forensic science, forgery by country, forgery of famous artists, Art forgery bibliography, further reading recommendations.
http://www.ifar.org/auth_main.htm
An excellent site for art research and authentication. This site must be re-visited to monitor its progress due to its continued development following grants (as mentioned).
A not-for-profit educational and research organization dedicated to integrity in the visual arts. IFAR offers impartial and authoritative information on authenticity, ownership, theft, and other artistic, legal, and ethical issues concerning art objects. Awarded a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) an independent federal grant-making agency, to help transform its existing Website into an information resource for museums, the broader art and legal worlds, and the public. Another component, the development of a catalogue raisonné database, is also underway and was just awarded a grant from the Henry Luce Foundation (U.S)..
http://www.artwatchinternational.org/
This website is an international website focused on restoration blunders all over the world.
An essential reference site when researching art fraud in the context of restorations and ‘improvements’.
Its President: Professor James Beck; Professor Italian Renaissance painting and sculpture. Ph.D., Columbia University, 1963.
http://www.mystudios.com/gallery/forgery/history/
This site has been produced by MyStudios, they have done extensive research and reference their sources, the author is Joe. L. Dolice, director of NRCA gallery and curator.
The best sites referring to Art Fraud in Australia:
http://www.aic.gov.au/conferences/artcrime/
Art crime conference. An excellent site with issues and links to papers pertaining particularly to the Australian market. This site contains links to papers by Robyn Sloggett, from the Ian Potter Museum of Art, University of Melbourne, Vic. Robyn is the Director of the Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation a leading art crime investigator. Links to Law enforcement issues, theft, legal issues in art crime: Australia and International, Aboriginal art: authenticity and the Consumer, Aboriginal art: Knowledge for consumers, Crime prevention.
http://www.soe.unimelb.edu.au/Content.aspx?topicID=290
For further education in art authentication. This site outlines the Graduate Certificate in Art Authentication at Uni of Melbourne.
http://www.caslon.com.au/forgeryprofile5.htm#australia
This site is a valuable introduction into the topic of Art fraud. It details Art Fraud in Australia, noting the art crime conference, incidents of fraud, references to further readings and forgery in Australia.
Other useful sites:
http://www.artcult.com/forger.htm
A useful site with recent auction results, news, advice, biographies.It is updated regularly.
http://www.worldprintmakers.com/english/duped.htm
Site linked to other relevant sites, linked to museum site.
http://www.cycleback.com/printsexamination/
Cycleback: A site discussing authenticity guide for investors.
A good starting point for novice investors.
http://titan.iwu.edu/~jfriedma/vermeer.htm
http://titan.iwu.edu/~jfriedma/vermeer.htm
Vermeer or not? The art forgeries of Han Van Meegeren.
Linked from: Authenticity and Fraud site. (http://titan.iwu.edu/~jfriedma/fraud.htm)
http://e-collection.ethbib.ethz.ch/ecol-pool/incoll/incoll_528.pdf
"Art Fakes What Fake’s" (paper)
An alternative look at the ‘other side’ of art fraud and the accreditation of merit to fraudulent artworks, as ‘bona fide’ pieces of art.
Missing:
My research has divulged many useful sites filled with information regarding all aspects of art fraud. Through my research I was unable to gain access to the National Fraud Database, access is only available through registration, being a gallery, museum or law agencies.
I would also liked to have been able to find information regarding the direct economic effect of discovered forgeries on individual Australian artists, (ie Arthur Streeton, Brett Whiteley, Robert Dickerson etc.). I envisage that information would be attainable by extensive research of auction results, however this would be both very time consuming and expensive.
In order to lessen the incidence of art fraud we must be diligent, we must educate and make people aware. Education; in conjunction with the availability of material now available via the web, provide the necessary tools to create an awareness of the damaging effects of art fraud in Australia and Internationally.
The development of an Art Fraud Database by the Australian Bureau of Criminal Intelligence, ACT; the conference on “Art Crime: Protecting Art, Protecting Artists and Protecting Consumers” and the commencement of “The Graduate Certificate in Art Authentication” held by the University of Melbourne, are all steps toward eradication and deletion of art fraud from the Australian market.