Unveiling Deception: 8 Famous Paintings Revealed as Fakes

Throughout art history, masterpieces have captivated audiences with their beauty, depth, and historical significance. However, beneath the surface of some renowned works lies a tale of deception and forgery.

From iconic portraits to celebrated landscapes, numerous famous paintings have been exposed as fraudulent, shaking the art world and challenging our perceptions of authenticity. Here, we delve into the intriguing stories behind 8 such notable cases of art forgery.

1. Christ and the Disciples at Emmaus attributed to Vermeer

This painting was the centre of one of the most notorious art scandals of the 20th century. It was brought to the attention of Abraham Bredius, a renowned Vermeer expert, who declared it to be a masterpiece by the Dutch painter. The painting was sold to a Nazi leader, Hermann Goering, during World War II. However, after the war, the painting was revealed to be a forgery by Han van Meegeren, a Dutch artist who had painted several fake Vermeers. He confessed to his crime to avoid being executed for collaborating with the Nazis.

2. The Netherlandish Proverbs attributed to Pieter Bruegel the Elder

This painting depicts a scene with various characters illustrating Dutch proverbs and idioms. It was believed to be an original work by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, a 16th-century Flemish painter. However, in 2005, it was discovered to be a forgery by the Greenhalgh family, a notorious group of art forgers from England. The son, Shaun, had painted the fake Bruegel, while his parents, George and Olive, had sold it to a museum. The family had also forged many other artworks, from ancient Egyptian statues to modern paintings.

3. Portrait of Alexander Mornauer attributed to Hans Holbein

This painting portrays a German merchant and diplomat, Alexander Mornauer, and was thought to be a work by Hans Holbein, a 16th-century German painter. It was acquired by the Louvre Museum in Paris in 1909, and was considered to be one of the finest examples of Holbein’s portraits. However, in 2011, it was revealed to be a forgery by Wolfgang Beltracchi, a German artist who had painted hundreds of fake paintings in the style of various masters. He had used historical pigments and old canvases to make his forgeries look authentic.

4. An Allegory attributed to Sandro Botticelli

This painting shows a female figure holding a banner with the word “PAX” (peace) in a landscape with classical ruins. It was attributed to Sandro Botticelli, a 15th-century Italian painter, and was bought by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 1938. It was displayed as one of the highlights of the museum’s collection, until 1979, when it was exposed as a forgery by Tom Keating, a British painter who had confessed to creating many fake paintings. He had left clues in his forgeries, such as hidden messages and anachronisms, to mock the art establishment.

5. Henri Leroy attributed to Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot

This painting depicts a man in a hat and coat and was attributed to Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, a 19th-century French painter. It was sold by a gallery in New York in 1990 and was praised by experts as a rare and valuable portrait by Corot. However, in 2012, it was revealed to be a fake by Ken Perenyi, an American painter who had specialised in imitating old masters. He had used antique materials and techniques to create his forgeries and had fooled many dealers and collectors for decades.

6. The Faun attributed to Paul Gauguin

This ceramic sculpture of a faun was attributed to Paul Gauguin, a 19th-century French painter who was famous for his works inspired by Tahiti. It was bought by the Art Institute of Chicago in 1997 and was considered to be one of the rare examples of Gauguin’s sculptures. However, in 2007, it was revealed to be a forgery by the Greenhalgh family, the same family who had forged the fake Bruegel. Shaun Greenhalgh had based his faun on a sketch in Gauguin’s notebook and had fooled the experts with his technical skills.

7. The Supper at Emmaus attributed to Caravaggio

This painting depicts the biblical scene of Jesus revealing himself to his disciples after his resurrection. It was attributed to Caravaggio, a 17th-century Italian painter who was known for his dramatic use of light and shadow. It was bought by a museum in Maastricht, Netherlands, in 2006, and was hailed as a major discovery. However, in 2008, it was revealed to be a forgery by Mario Rojas Alfonso, a Cuban painter who had copied an original Caravaggio painting of the same subject. He used a chemical process to age his painting and to create cracks and stains.

8. The Madonna with the Child attributed to Leonardo da Vinci

This painting shows the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus in her arms. It was attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, the 15th-century Italian painter and genius who was famous for his masterpieces such as the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper. It was sold by a gallery in London in 1992 and was authenticated by several experts as a genuine Leonardo. However, in 2011, it was revealed to be a forgery by Tony Tetro, an American painter who had claimed to be the world’s greatest art forger. He had used a photograph of a real Leonardo painting as a reference and had used a mixture of pigments and varnishes to create his fake.