We are talking about a multimillion-dollar fraud, which affected famous collectors and auction houses. Sotheby's, in particular, had to return the money for the fake "Khalsa". But the perpetrators managed to get away with it

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photo - paintings Lino Frongia (1958), a suspect in creating the fakes for multimillion-dollar large-scale fraud with the old masters. Italian auctions, they are sold for $7 500 – 12 000. Auction record @ - a $15 340. The last 20 years, the artist painted at the intersection of surrealism and expressionism. But the style feels strong influence of old masters. Photo - linofrongia.com, artprice.com #scaremaster #forgery #of Francia #scandal

the Publication of artconspectus (@artconspectus) 17 Sep 2019 8:00 PM PDT

the Arrests began only now. TANR writes that the court has issued a warrant for the arrest of Giuliano Ruffini, who was seen in the sale of abnormal number of counterfeit old masters. For a long time, almost two decades, his position was "I not I, and not my hut". Say, I'm just a collector, not an expert. Yes, showed paintings auctions and museums, and it is they decided for themselves that things are real. Actually, if you read the history of the conflict around the "old masters", it creates a clear sense that the scandal tried to cover up at high levels. For each question the experts was followed by an indignant objection other top professionals. Even after Orion Analytical laboratory reported modern pigments found in many paintings, she immediately recalled that she recently belongs Sotheby's, and therefore, they say, can not be objective. In the course of going any absurd theses, because a huge scandal is unfolding.

it Turns out that for decades under the noses of the experts, the market turnover was introduced coming out of nowhere dozens of paintings by Hals, Parmigianino, El Greco, Cranach and others. Given that only one Hals of proddy $11 200 000, you can imagine the scale of the disaster. Adds piquancy to the situation that some of them took part in exhibitions in prestigious museums and visit with them in the lease. Individual "masterpieces" were the Louvre, the National gallery, the Metropolitan. And all without the seemingly inevitable scandals and revelations. And then with this exhibition provenance of a simpleton to find much easier.

the bottleneck of the investigation was the direct figure of the author. Who is this extraordinary man who long led by the nose museums and auctions? Just learned that the Italians arrested Francia Lino (Lino Frongia, R. 1958). He showed high class as copyist in the establishment of legal repetitions in the style of the old masters (for example, for the restored churches). Prices for his work under his own name in Italian and American auctions — is in the range of $7 500-12 000. About as much was given to buyers for his foot thing. The record was set in 2006 on the Italian auction. Then six-foot canvas was sold for $15 340. In recent years, in the works of Lino Frongia was dominated by the surreal stories, but stylistically I see the attraction to the art of the old masters.

it remains to add. Until recently, it seemed that the fake antique paintings from scratch — is defeateddisease. As smallpox. Fraudulent anachronism. Imagine how much fuss with them? Labor-intensive production stage, unnecessary witnesses, slippery handlers... and all the same, any little-мальски conscientious laboratory can easily detect a phony. Modern authors of this work (good copy under real examination — Yes, it happens), but with the old masters — as? But perhaps it is this self-confidence of participants of the market of the old masters (where nasmotrennost placed above technological research) and allowed to "hack" this segment is particularly brazen forgers. Once relaxed and ceased for any reason to do the examination, then — Nate you have.

For Russia-2019 all these Italian antics are even more bizarre. Our auction market is now even more for each-менее a drawing we shake expertise, preferably fresh. And then people buy tens of millions of dollars and believe in the word, ignoring the technology. Miracles.

Vladimir Bogdanov, AI

Sources: theartnewspaper.ru, linofrongia.com

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