Uncertain of Goncharova: development of the plot
ARTinvestment.RU   04 июля 2011

AI introduces the selected publications for the resonant events surrounding the publication of two books about Goncharova. According to Russian experts on creativity Goncharova, books contain a large number of questionable activities, and Western opponen

To put it briefly, the story goes as follows: two books on Natalia Goncharova, which are Anthony Parton’s monograph and the first volume of Denise Bazetoux’s catalogue, came out in 2010 and 2011 respectively. According to Russian experts on Goncharova’s artwork, both books include a considerable amount of dubious works.

A press-conference entitled «Fakes and forgery in art: Russian experts protecting Natalia Goncharova’s legacy» took place in Moscow on April 26 2011 (click here to watch related video). Among those making statements at the event were the Tretyakov Art Gallery director Irina Lebedeva, senior researcher Irina Vakar, the head of the Russian government's Department for the Protection of Cultural Property Viktor Petrakov, collectors James Butterwick and Peter Aven. A well-known art-historian Andrei Sarabianov expressed his strong disapproval of both Parton’s and Bazetoux’s works in the article «The alternative Goncharova». Among various sources which have voiced concern of the Russian art historians over the current state of affairs were The Art Newspaper (№ 225, June 2011), «КоммерсантЪ», our website ARTinvestment.RU and many other Russian media.

This activity caused the reaction of the International Chamber of Russian Modernism (InCoRM.org), which has Denise Bazetoux & Anthony Parton mentioned among its members. Several articles, estimating doubts of Russian specialists as vicious attacks on respected Western art historians, were published on InCoRM.org site.

We offer you some resonant articles about the case:

1. «In Moscow, talks about fake Goncharova» — AI summary of the press-conference held on 26th April, 2011.
2. «Art historians viciously attacked» — published on InCoRM.org site (4th May, 2011).
3. «James Butterwick’s letter to InCoRM.org» — text provided by the author.
4. «The letter by the general director of the Tretyakov Gallery to publishing house Antique Collectors' Club about the book “Natalia Goncharova” written by Prof. A.Parton» (18th May, 2011).
5. «Police check alleged forged Russian artifacts in Czech gallery» — article about investigations at the exhibition of Natalia Goncharova in Ceske Budejovice published by praguemonitor.com based on news stories from Artalk.cz & Denik.cz (27th May, 2011).
6. «Genesis of a Catalogue Raisonné» — article by one of the authors of discussed books Denise Bazetoux on InCoRM.org site (14th June, 2011).
7. «Protecting Goncharova's Legacy» — by ARTnews (Volume 110/Number 6, June 2011).
8. «CIS & Russian International Confederation of Art & Antique Dealers (ICAAD) wishes to come out in support of the heritage of the Russian avant-garde artist Natalia Goncharova» — special report for the annual CINOA conference held on 24th–26th June, 2011 in Saint-Petersburg.