Not Fine Art

PAUL GAUGUIN

Christie’s and Sotheby’s each offered an identical painting, Vase de Fleurs, at the same time in 2000. The dealer who owned the original had a copy made, which he sold with the original letter of authenticity.

THOMAS GAINSBOROUGH

A 1791 landscape oil painting was reportedly undone when faint pencil marks were found below the signature for the forger to trace.

HEINRICH CAMPENDONK

One of the most successful forgers in history, Wolfgang Beltracchi unknowingly used a paint containing traces of titanium white in a phony Campendonk work. There was no titanium white in Campendonk’s day.

CLEMENTINE HUNTER

A series of works purportedly by the African-American folk artist had cat hair stuck in the paint, whereas Hunter’s originals did not. Her forgers had dozens of cats.

VINCENT VAN GOGH

This van Gogh fake was unmasked because it has young van Gogh motifs (a Japanese print of a woman) mixed with mature van Gogh motifs (a bandaged ear).