Fakes in the art world - The mystery conman

Fakes in the art world - The mystery conman | DW Documentary

Рет қаралды 1,547,947

Күн бұрын

Fake art sits unnoticed in galleries around the world. A talented fraudster has been playing the art market and ripping off collectors for years. Who is the mystery conman? Discover more in THE MYSTERY CONMAN - THE MURKY BUSINESS OF COUNTERFEIT ANTIQUES.
Museum curators and art collectors want to sweep the topic of counterfeiting under the carpet. But archaeologist Stefan Lehmann is on the hunt for the elusive figure whose counterfeit antiques are in some of the world's biggest collections.
Around 40 fakes have been discovered and Lehmann believes this is just the tip of the iceberg. Alongside antique dealer Christoph Leon, Lehmann follows the forgery trail through Europe and to the US.
______
DW Documentary gives you knowledge beyond the headlines. Watch top documentaries from German broadcasters and international production companies. Meet intriguing people, travel to distant lands, get a look behind the complexities of daily life and build a deeper understanding of current affairs and global events. Subscribe and explore the world around you with DW Documentary.
Subscribe to:
⮞ DW Documentary (English): / dwdocumentary
⮞ DW Documental (Spanish): / dwdocumental
⮞ DW Documentary وثائقية دي دبليو (Arabic): / dwdocarabia
⮞ DW Doku (German): / dwdoku
⮞ DW Documentary हिन्दी (Hindi): / dwdochindi
For more visit: www.dw.com/en/tv/docfilm/s-3610
Follow DW Documentary on Instagram: / dwdocumentary
Follow DW Documental on Facebook: / dwdocumental
We kindly ask viewers to read and stick to the DW netiquette policy on our channel: p.dw.com/p/MF1G

Пікірлер: 1 100

@stannousflouride8372 6 жыл бұрын

Part of the scam seems to be that pieces are loaned to museums for a few years so that they can add that to the item's provenance when they want to sell it through an auction house.

@Awibrahor 6 жыл бұрын

Stannous Flouride Correct. That’s why some museums refuse to take privately owned pieces on loan. Museums should be permanent repositories for artefacts, not promoters of the antiquities trade.

@annereilley4892 5 жыл бұрын

You are right, he mentioned that at the end of the video.

@stannousflouride8372 5 жыл бұрын

I forgot I've already watched this. :-)

@cantopia 5 жыл бұрын

Yep. I know a guy who did exactly this at Yale. Loan it, cite the loan, bingo, you've got a prestigious history. In his case I'm not sure the art was even a fake, it just needed its provenance polished up.

@QuantumEffectResidue 4 жыл бұрын

Yes, that's real crafty and cunning. It's really sad that we can't enjoy buying and selling antiquities and antiques to the fullest because of criminals that fake things. There needs to be a law where if one is convicted of making forgeries of antiquities and antiques he or she will be imprisoned for life with no parole. No appeals and no deals either. I would ( just in case) like this man in the video, have all the fake stored somewhere until it can be examined thoroughly before destroying them.

@CoxJoxSox 7 жыл бұрын

Good job Dr Stefan Lehmann - we need more people with integrity like you.

@thelyrebird1310 3 жыл бұрын

Purchasing antiquity sculptures a lot are you to need a professional appraisal?

@CassiaSantosart 9 ай бұрын

Nothing is as it seens...

@ThisFinalHandle 4 жыл бұрын

Note to self: remember to age inside of sculpture the same as the outside. -Spanish Master

@thefloridamanofytcomments5264 4 жыл бұрын

Probably won’t show up in his KZfaq recommendations for at least another 5 years

@justinmartin4662 3 жыл бұрын

Ah ha! I’ve found you!!

@johnllewlyndavies222 3 жыл бұрын

@@justinmartin4662 HE'S not the GENUINE Spanish Master.

@alexm566 3 жыл бұрын

@@johnllewlyndavies222 He's the Spanish Master forged by the Spanish Master..oh wait.

@redram5150 3 жыл бұрын

There’s a reason for that... ancient Turtle Wax. Made from real turtles

@the-chillian 5 жыл бұрын

With all these heads on the market, you'd expect an equally vast market for separated torsos and limbs...

@timhunter6584 5 жыл бұрын

Authentic, but low-value body fragments would be the perfect material to melt down for a million-dollar fake head. I wonder ...are there any left ?

@lhaviland8602 5 жыл бұрын

LOL

@turquoisegreene9625 4 жыл бұрын

the justification for this disproportionate ratio is that the heads, being the thickest part of the statue, are most likely to survive for 2-3 millennia.... they also tend to be made of higher quality/ purer material - as it's the most malleable on, since faces need more molding and detail work than the rest of the statue

@carlpen850 4 жыл бұрын

Well I have a fake torso I know I could sell if only someone would lend me a hand or two.

@radiatorbacon5239 4 жыл бұрын

Ba-dum-chh

@Vinkie 5 жыл бұрын

"So Augustus will have to have his head examined again"

@vondahe 3 жыл бұрын

I noticed and enjoyed that one, too!

@Vinkie 3 жыл бұрын

@@vondahe Hehe yeah... 23:20 for anyone else wondering.

@algini12 3 жыл бұрын

Outside of being a great emperor, Augustus's one mistake should have led to that head examination. Letting his failed general brother in law take legions into Germany was a pretty bad one.

@signalfire6 5 жыл бұрын

They're missing the boat - open up an art gallery/museum with only known fakes, showing how great the forgers were. You'd make more in ticket sales and pay far less for your displays.

@patriciarobinson5909 2 жыл бұрын

Great idea!

@tytaylor8525 2 жыл бұрын

My God, you're a goddamned genius!!! They are TRULY missing the boat!!! Wow!!! Great idea!!!

@xanderx8661 2 жыл бұрын

There have been exhibits dedicated to forged art. Specifically the Spanish master. Some of his known forgeries are still worth good money

@Dobolt Жыл бұрын

Good idea, probably against the law in most countries though 🤷🏼‍♂️

@janfredell7936 Жыл бұрын

@@xanderx8661 4564

@kiranm6749 2 жыл бұрын

Augustus looked shocked when he heard he was fake.. 😂😂😂

@mariahbanke1795 5 күн бұрын

😂😂😂😂😂

@amypanddirtytoo1926 3 жыл бұрын

I have heard in art school that forgeries can sometimes be worth more than the originals simply because of the skill of the artist and the beautiful pieces they are able to make, that coupled with the "infamy" of certain forgers and you have value even in a forgery. For instance, did you hear how excited that man sounded when he said it was going to be the first forgery by The Spanish Master that he was able to examine. This "Spanish Master" is already making a name for himself based on the quality of his forgeries and soon it might be a "thing" to have some "exciting black market art" from a "famous forger". We are the ones that place value on objects based on our own criteria, if we decide that forgeries by The Spanish Master are valuable, then they will be. Edit: Museums really should only display the real ones as real, but since they have so many forgeries they should exhibit the forgeries in an exhibit of their own, a forgery room, maybe where they display the forgeries next to the real ones to show how realistic the forgers can make it, or how obviously fake.

@DanWoodTomwoodson 2 жыл бұрын

Forgers were imitating the work of Van Meegeren, a forger himself.

@scobra5941 Жыл бұрын

In the Royal Armouries in Leeds UK, several forgeries of medieval items are displayed in this way, in their own exhibition of fakes.

@bestplayeralive Жыл бұрын

@@DanWoodTomwoodson Michaelangelo started as an art forger. He was caught and could have been severely punished however the cardinal thought he was so talented that he hired him as a personal artist.

@quistwing Жыл бұрын

i'm 2 years late, but you'll be pleased to hear that there are a couple of "fake art" museums! there's one in the USA i think, and one in Austria if i'm not mistaken. lots of art forgers (ex-forgers) also have their fakes displayed in galleries (or sell them legally). John Myatt has his fakes in a London gallery, for example.

@amypanddirtytoo1926 Жыл бұрын

@quistwing Nice! I'll have to check those out, thank you!

@mansongothman 5 жыл бұрын

so how do I go about buying worthless proven forgeries for next to nothing, because Id love to decorate my house with certified fakes for dirt cheap.

@magichands135 4 жыл бұрын

The point is, they're not worthless. Experts are willing to pay big money for these pieces because they are still top quality. As a piece of art, they should still go for a good price, just not top money.

@rexterrocks 4 жыл бұрын

@@magichands135 I disagree, no expert would spend big money on a known fake.

@rexterrocks 4 жыл бұрын

You can buy reproductions online of loads of antiquities, but once an object in a collection has been proven a fake it isn't sold on, simply because it could reappear on the market again. You'd be surprised how cheap some reproductions sell for.

@tonydardi332 4 жыл бұрын

Nick Farinacci Heck just paint them yourself. Most of that stuff looks like my 5 year old nephew painted them anyway. I’ll guarantee you nobody would even question it.

@AA-ke5cu 4 жыл бұрын

Go to any art museum basement and make cash offers. Over 65 percent of everything down there is bogus.

@johnllewlyndavies222 3 жыл бұрын

The Alexander looks like something you'd pick up in a good gardening centre.

@mariahbanke1795 5 күн бұрын

😂😂😂😂

@Print229 3 жыл бұрын

This is SO much worse now than it was four years ago. And not just with sculpture or antiquities but with all types of art. With online bidding gaining in popularity, now, everyday people are spending their savings or inheritance money just to own one "museum piece" and they are falling for every fake out there. So sad!

@Larsanator 4 жыл бұрын

The reason everyone is tight lipped and says nothing is because Art Dealing is really Money Laundering.

@MatanuskaHIGH 4 жыл бұрын

Exactly.....

@MatanuskaHIGH 4 жыл бұрын

Rush's Tumor I can buy expensive art without a bank. Cash. Can’t do that with a house or land without raising red flags of your income and where it comes from. Banks are easier way to get caught than art. Paper trails are never good.

@EstimatedProphet92 4 жыл бұрын

matanuska high I’m not saying your wrong about art being used to money launder, it’s common knowledge in collectors circles. but you might be surprised how often real estate is used, regardless if they have to take a few extra steps paper work wise. Just read about billionaires row for the most egregious examples

@johngnoni7158 4 жыл бұрын

Larsanator if you find a seller willing to renegotiate after sale value agreed, possible. Needs help from selling agent as well to find suitable seller willing to take some clean some dirt cash

@Tom-le3yy 4 жыл бұрын

Still though, since its about circulation, you would expect there would be more than enough genuine antique art to buy at crazy prices to launder money.

@ImissSaganCarl 4 жыл бұрын

What an eye opener. Excellent documentary. This is a must watch for all those with a passion for ancient art works.

@laz5590 3 жыл бұрын

Or to all forger wannabe 😀

@Simp_Zone Жыл бұрын

@@laz5590 Yeah I think I went into the wrong business. I need to start forging art lol

@judeirwin2222 Жыл бұрын

There are plenty of forgeries of modern works, too.

@juniorjohnson5961 10 ай бұрын

Or to people who love conmen . I love forgery bank robbery & counterfeit money . I've missed my calling .

@juniorjohnson5961 10 ай бұрын

Have you watched the biggest art con of the 20th century ?

@angelobugini6771 5 жыл бұрын

Fakes in the art world is an astonishing documentary! I truly did appreciate it so much. Thanks a lot for sharing! Keep it up!

@williamnordeste9653 5 жыл бұрын

old new who cares

@bio-plasmictoad5311 5 жыл бұрын

@@williamnordeste9653 you do enough to of left a comment

@potemkin8606 4 жыл бұрын

Absolutely fantastic documentary! Do more stuff like this please.

@jasongill7779 5 жыл бұрын

Anti-Indiana Jones: 'That doesn't belong in a museum!'

@paulburns1333 4 жыл бұрын

Ha, they should make a new film where he's stealing these from museums and taking them to a scrapyard.

@benlikebike 3 жыл бұрын

Indi-anti? I named the dog Indi-anti!

@somerset006 4 жыл бұрын

Luckily, this documentary is genuine -- no doubt about that!

@NoNopeAndNo 2 жыл бұрын

Nope, forged camera was utilised

@scobra5941 Жыл бұрын

Has your account been subject to forensic analysis?

@t850 6 жыл бұрын

...Roman empire lasted for 1000 years but sheer number or bronze heads is still remarkable to me. I mean what are the odds that there are so many heads and so few busts and are all in near perfect condition...

@ronalddavis 4 жыл бұрын

there were so many bronze heads in the streets of rome you could hardly walk

@phmwu7368 4 жыл бұрын

Conveniently for these Bronze heads, radio-Carbon C14 dating will not work as it's only possible for organic textures...

@Quagigitymire 4 жыл бұрын

Pertaining to the libel suit, the fact that the piece disappeared and even more revealing the fact the gentlemen has carried on with his public research says a lot about the outcome of the undisclosed settlement reached. I would confidently bet the decision went the way of it being a fake or that the case for it being a fake was very convincing and the plaintiff absolutely refused to allow any degree of independent validation of its legitimacy thus completely destroying their case and very likely resulting in their paying for fees and lost time of the defendant as an agreement to stop further public embarrassment that comes from a publicly known ruling against them.

@soumyajitdas1878 4 жыл бұрын

The content of this channel never ceases to amaze me. Brilliant!!

@sootyjared4208 5 жыл бұрын

I dunno if it’s the translation but the art dealer at 4:08 made me laugh. I love how he talks.

@dojufitz 6 жыл бұрын

If I had the Spanish Master's talent.....I would have done a little more research...

@cosmicrust9715 6 жыл бұрын

BETTER yet, I would have started My Own ART career and Become a Famous ARTIST!!

@amaziahofjudah9722 6 жыл бұрын

He or she likely creates what sells well, not what looks convincing. There is almost no overlap between these categories.

@t850 6 жыл бұрын

...mastering any craft takes time, so does reasearching history. I guess one has too little of if to master both...

@hugolindum7728 5 жыл бұрын

Why bother? It all sold.

@JulijeJelaska 5 жыл бұрын

They don't get the clue: every sculpture is easy to make a exact copy, with not so much effort, sculptors knew the difference, and that is professional secrets.After copy has been made, they do afterworks mastering original look, especial, at bronze sculpture.For many ordinary people....they dont know the difference between forgery and original, because its an art mastery.

@robertschlesinger1342 Жыл бұрын

Excellent video. Very interesting, informative and worthwhile video.

@francoisquiviger 7 жыл бұрын

Excellent documentary, so well filmed, and the montage too, someone is having fun, so much humour, the sequence with Chris Leon in the BMW with the Swiss landscape along operatic music is as funny as his entrance near Marseille (once theatres the Rolling Stones festive spirit) along 'Sympathy for the Devil'.

@DWDocumentary 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your feedback! We always appreciate it :)

@ts121084 4 жыл бұрын

Pure class!!!

@whitestguyuknow 3 жыл бұрын

8:11 "Even the best of us can fall for a fake... There's nothing more to say..." He definitely knew he would be sued if he even slightly implied that it was being intentionally passed off as real

@pashkaewall8857 Жыл бұрын

He was probably framed!!

@ondrejnovotny7628 4 жыл бұрын

I also liked how the archeologist admired the artistic quality of the fake bronze had. It only shows that for him, it is a matter of honest historical research rather than a question of whether he is allowed to like the piece :-)

@MarkH10 5 жыл бұрын

So.... The Art World knows ,collectively, that there is a forger, often recognized as The Spanish Master. He has been forging in specifically, Ancient Bronzes for 45 years., and possibly has made 300 pieces. Yet.... Not one Museum director will look critically at his own collection, and if confronted, will deny that HE has been duped. Not one Museum director will look critically at his colleagues' collections, and try to find any examples. Not one Museum director will even take a critical look at the collections of Museums they compete with. The more denial there is, and resistance to provenance, the bigger this issue becomes. Every high end collection world has this issue. Wine, Art, Manuscripts, Maps, even Automobiles. Why don't we get a national tour group together and go see all the Spanish Masters' works on display around the US? Waltz right into Museums, and tell the staff, "We are here to see just the Spanish Masters' works, please."

@retroshark 5 жыл бұрын

I know this is a comment you posted a while ago - but I'm just reading it now and I whole-heartedly agree. I think this is exactly what should happen. Kind of like the museum of counterfeits/forgeries in Thailand (I think its in Thailand... it might be Cambodia!).

@kevinchambers1609 4 жыл бұрын

I love it, a great idea.

@hollygolightly8048 4 жыл бұрын

MarkH10 isn’t it grand when these so-called art collectors’ egos are so fragile that they are in denial about their own collection of art forgeries?

@MM-pj4bl 3 жыл бұрын

I love how he said “this is so fake it stinks!” 😂😂😂😂😂😂

@dianeodify 4 жыл бұрын

"The Spanish Forger" is the name which was given to a forger active in the first decades of the twentieth century and who probably was Spanish. One picture he produced was alleged to show Columbus arriving on the American shore and you still see it used that way. It was sold to Wilfrid Voynich, a bookdealer then resident in London. He sold it to the British Museum/Library which realised it was a forgery. Voynich did the honourable thing and bought it back, though it has resurfaced since. The Spanish forger's title has just been re-used for the modern maker(s) of these heads.

@TheFiown 4 жыл бұрын

You only have to read the several 'disclaimer' pages at the end of an auction catalogue to get an idea of the mentality of these institutions !

@wendys390 5 жыл бұрын

What a great documentary. Very well done, and absolutely jaw-dropping to think so many forgeries are being shown as authentic.

@101perspective 6 жыл бұрын

The good news is that your sculpture is genuine. The bad news is that it is now highly radioactive.

@RBuckminsterFuller 5 жыл бұрын

Radiation doesn't cause radiated items to become radioactive.

@windwhipped5 5 жыл бұрын

I like the song Radioactive, from the 80's.

@MrDelvoye 4 жыл бұрын

what a stupid comment ....clearly u understated nothing fro what they said

@619chrisoriginal 5 жыл бұрын

They should just have a museum of known forgers.

@whitestguyuknow 3 жыл бұрын

That would be very cool! I would absolutely visit. They're part of the history of Earth

@benlikebike 3 жыл бұрын

There is one in Vienna

@waynebow-gu7wr 3 жыл бұрын

We have a counciller here on the Sunshine Coast Australia, that bought a cheap painting, and was told later on, that it was worthless. A few years later, Village Road Show re examined it.... and found that it was worth about $350,000 !

@mystrength5640 3 жыл бұрын

Fascinating program, thank you!

@MrKajithecat 3 жыл бұрын

Academics and scientists stepping in to the art market racket and telling forgers they are on their radar. I love it.

@Beiskraft 5 жыл бұрын

Great documentary.

@donaldlamkin1305 2 жыл бұрын

Great video! What a fascinating subject

@thatpanamahatlife1497 2 жыл бұрын

A fascinating documentary. When he was in the room of plaster casts, I almost expected one of them to turn and look at him 😳

@stephenbeacham9717 3 жыл бұрын

Really pains me to know these forgers are melting ancient coins to make fake art objects. Ancient coins handled by hundreds or thousands of humans, who are no longer alive, leave a tiny negative mark on a coin. Like the saddle seen in ancient stairs or the shine on the paw of a library lion.

@vivakimo 6 жыл бұрын

Excellent cinematography.

@PHlophe 6 жыл бұрын

@Rahim Muy excelente !

@glenncambray626 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent and fascinating documentary.

@sm1thsisdead 6 жыл бұрын

Soundtrack from “The Talented Mr. Ripley”

@sutapamazumdar1338 4 жыл бұрын

Informative. I had longed to watch a documentary on this topic. I request for a similar one made on painting. Thank you DW!

@jazzcatt 3 жыл бұрын

There have been several documentaries on fake paintings from the 'Masters' over the decades. They are indeed fascinating!

@melaniecarter8604 5 жыл бұрын

Fascinating and pretty sobering. I wonder how many forgeries have I seen back when I was living and travelling through Western Europe? Thanks for sharing this documentary.

@laz5590 3 жыл бұрын

And what a different would it make ? Did you buy some ? By the look, they all beautiful, that's what you did , looked them , right ? The forger / artist created a master piece for you to see . So , from your view point , doesn't make any difference . The difference is in the price ,what you have nothing to do with ! Right ? 😀

@will._.x_.861 10 ай бұрын

Another great documentary DW

@Zoltar0 10 ай бұрын

"This one is so fake it stinks." I love this guys confidence!

@doberman1ism 7 жыл бұрын

Very interesting information. One would think that the auction houses would do a CT scan on the sculptures before putting them out on the market.

@timothyhayes9724 6 жыл бұрын

Too expensive

@bernier1608 6 жыл бұрын

What...and lose out on tens of thousands of dollars in commission? Not to mention ostracizing a member of the exclusive art/antiquities clique (which happen to be both buyers and sellers) thereby giving cold feet to other collectors who were thinking of putting their own items up for auction. This ripple effect could cost an auction house millions of $.

@PHlophe 6 жыл бұрын

Berny, it only costs them the reputation in the whole network, that is if the buyer bleat this to the papers or higher up trustees. most times they are too embarrassed .

@aprilreign5560 6 жыл бұрын

It does beg the question, doesn't it? However, those willing to buy a piece with murky provenance might be unwilling to bear the expense or be too naive or too trusting of their dealer to ask for the item in question to be studied as a possible forgery. The documentary did an excellent job of explaining how dealers get around this by not taking personal responsibility for the sale, etc. Also, as it's not a matter of simply doing a CT scan, you are involving a number of experts, and as we saw, a regular CT scan was too weak to "read" the interior of the head, and it also required expert interpretation, so that is a lot of expense and rare expert opinions, as gathered for this documentary. Why would one do that if one trusted their dealer and it had already been sold before as a believable antiquity? I believe these are some of the reasons why your question wouldn't result in this, as well as the reasons provided in the documentary. Other types of art might not benefit as much from a CT scan for determining if it's the genuine article. I'm thinking of some paintings. Although? in an attempt to properly "date" a canvas, I know some forgers have been known to paint over a canvas from the correct era, which would x-ray or CT scan as an underpainting and might provide a clue. But that alone might not be the smoking gun. Excellent documentary, btw... on a subject that I truly enjoy learning about and have been studying. Fascinating...very well presented doc.

@aleksisuuronen9094 6 жыл бұрын

They don't also have to because buyers want to think it's real, almost as if it's more important to get the bragging rights by owning something, it being authentic ain't that important if everyone thinks it's real and it serves it's purpose. Furthermore if you have owned something years and can't even retrack to seller, you don't want to hear you spend 200k on bullshit and look like a fool. This same stuff is happening in wine auctions, auction house wants the commission and buyer want's to think it's real so who is there to bring anybody in reality.

@theinkbrain 6 жыл бұрын

And the music at the beginning, a subtle joke - Scherza Infida - from Handel's Ariodante. Icing on the cake

@callisto742 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you. I was looking for this specifically.

@scrivener6450 4 жыл бұрын

I've never heard a better case for using gut strings for early classical music. The wonderful countertenor whose voice is heard briefly is Philippe Jaroussky.

@edwardshowden5511 4 жыл бұрын

Brilliant documentary.

@starsoffyre 6 ай бұрын

As an ancient art collector, I try to get my pieces lab tested when I make purchases, even if they have great provenance (e.g. previously from a museum). The good thing is that reputable auction houses will typically refund if the item was determined to be a forgery, so there is quite a low risk on my part.

@user-ls3kx8pl9g 5 жыл бұрын

Is there an exhibition somewhere about the „Spanish Master“? I would love to visit it.

@alex0589 5 жыл бұрын

Welcome to the art world: where everything is made up and the points dont matter!

@lynn-9937 4 жыл бұрын

Alex because it is subjective. The process of making art is meaningful but money and the current culture make it impure.

@1369buddy 3 жыл бұрын

That's funny!! Drew friggin carie

@engledelaffety4380 2 жыл бұрын

DW makes the best documentaries.

@jonathanmosher72 Жыл бұрын

Strange story. 20 years ago I was a sculpter, I was good but worked mostly in ceramics. At a show, a guy who seemed Turkish came up to me and asked if I worked in stone. I had absolutely no desire to chisel away at rock. He told me I should try and he'd pay me a lot for Greek and Roman busts because he has clients looking for them. He was pushy. He asked me if I think I could do this or that.. I said "Given enough time, probably and I'd hate every minute of it" He kept on me about it, gave me his card and walked off. Now it all makes sense.

@DustinMercer 6 жыл бұрын

good job. well done.

@creature57 2 жыл бұрын

Such an interesting documentary. As an artist myself, I am always looking at the provenance of what it is I am buying even though it's on a different scale than these wonderful pieces of art or, fakes.

@DWDocumentary 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching and for sharing your thoughts on the topic. We’re glad you liked the documentary.

@jackjackeroo6221 5 жыл бұрын

fascinating film. it reminds me of a quote from one of the great works of literature of our time: George Smiley: Ever bought a fake picture, Toby? Toby Esterhase: I sold a couple once. George Smiley: The more you pay for it, the less inclined you are to doubt its authenticity.

@anodyne57 4 ай бұрын

Those are wonderful lines by Le Carré...succinct, pithy, eloquent, and humorous. Redolent of the complexity of human existence.

@jackjackeroo6221 4 ай бұрын

@@anodyne57 I think you were right the first time. Hahaha. Definitely some Hopcraft massaging of the original text. I can't remember when I have loved so much the filmed version of a book that I loved.

@yvanmcgregor5823 5 жыл бұрын

Much gratitude:)

@kalkush5801 4 жыл бұрын

Whole episode made the "Spanish Master" look so brilliant. The fact that some or most of his work has been noticed and documented as fake, he has made over the years millions of dollars selling them to museums and private collectors through art dealers with most staying mum on the subject. Alas letting him stay in the shadows collecting even more millions of dollars to buy more ancient coins. Ultimately melting them down to cast new busts of famous history book individuals from antiquity.

@33Donner77 3 жыл бұрын

The Getty Museum Kouros was cited by many as a fine example of ancient art, when now it is considered a forgery. As for paintings, there may be computerized scanning techniques that match the number and characteristics of brushstrokes in a painting with the actual pattern of the famous artist (in addition to researching materials, age, etc.)

@artchem1 Жыл бұрын

Always look at the edges.... that is where you will find an original painting vs a Forgery....

@anodyne57 4 ай бұрын

The confounding thing (for collectors of these figures) which I've noticed about the "Kouros" type, as you can observe in the ones held in the Acropolis Museum or the Athens Archaeological Museum is that so many look like copies of one another.

@ericdebord 6 жыл бұрын

if an expert cant tell the difference between a fake and the real thing, then the fakes are just a good as the real thing.

@EGarrett01 5 жыл бұрын

...but the expert can tell the difference. That's kind of the point of the documentary. They also say, quite validly, that you can't study history using forgeries.

@yesikanarvaez5027 5 жыл бұрын

@@EGarrett01 It's like using counterfeit money instead of real money

@zeroceiling 5 жыл бұрын

its the thought and inspiration that created the image in the mind of the artist...so you are paying for a part of his soul...so to speak......a forgery on the other hand...is like a dead body...it still looks the same but some aspect of it is different...

@whitestguyuknow 3 жыл бұрын

They can definitely tell the difference and part of the reason for the doc was to show how they're being passed off intentionally regardless just for the cash

@emmahardesty4330 3 жыл бұрын

The irony, of course, with shows like this is the amount of really useful information it provides to forgers. Just like newscasts where they describe the details about how a hacker-a scammer-a killer was caught: great info for the criminals.

@alexm566 2 жыл бұрын

Exactly. They wouldn't have a way to access the real experts so easily otherwise.

@tomp2008 6 жыл бұрын

I like how at one point in the film the narrator tells us that Lehman has to "get his head examined".

@njmccormackgmail 4 жыл бұрын

Twice

@nanucit 3 жыл бұрын

I'd really love to have a museum of fake art, I find most of this pieces are pretty beautiful and can't see why they are *worthless*

@EvilThunderB0lt 3 жыл бұрын

Because they are not over one thousand years old...

@mondomacabromajor5731 6 жыл бұрын

Anyone with an eye for detail can see fake bronze sculptures parading as antiques - as the sculptor has injected expressions and a bit of themselves into the work - it looks odd - whereas in antiquity the sculpture was totally form based and restricted in expression. Ultimately rich collectors don't care about whether an artwork is genuinely from antiquity or not - all they care about is its 'value on the art market' ....the real criminals are the 'ART Dealers' who pass on these fakes as real - or suggest them as possibly the real deal - the end result is always suggested at auction - 'caveat emptor' or buyer beware!!

@JulijeJelaska 5 жыл бұрын

Forgers do "exact copy" from the original, in that point is truth, never to be discovered because, if you want to "discover", you must have an artist knowledge!

@constancewalsh3646 5 жыл бұрын

I am so happy to read your comment on expression! It's the first thing I looked for - and found - in the first three minutes of this video. Who needs experts and x-rays? It's about feeling ... subtle energies and intuitions .. something's not quite right - ah! there it is - the mouth, the lips. I'm no expert, simply an art lover who's seen a lot of it , soul food. Can 'smell it' when something's off no matter how minute (Virgo Rising in my chart!). Thank you for "restricted in expression".

@melissaforknerlesher9463 5 жыл бұрын

The "Spanish Master" also has difficulty rendering consistency in the eyes. In all the examples they showed, one eye was slightly higher than the other.

@MM-Iconoclast 5 жыл бұрын

Yes, my impression exactly. The 'Spanish Master' has a style (an expression of themselves - who they are - like a fingerprint) and he/she can't help putting it into their work.

@andycheng9066 4 жыл бұрын

I guess youtube recommendations have brought us all back together again

@harrylen1688 3 жыл бұрын

Photography it's part of my hobby and love it. I never thought Art forgery will be so extended and less exploited cause High Society is the reason to kept it under the rug as long it takes=forever .To me DW Documentary its an eye opened learning things that barely imagine. Amazing work!!

@judeirwin2222 Жыл бұрын

Your garbled post makes it difficult to respond.

@tbrowniscool 4 жыл бұрын

The plaster cast at 18:21 in the background is amazing! the emotion and power! They said these are all originals too. Best ive ever seen.

@anodyne57 4 ай бұрын

I thought that one was highly suspicious. Strong emotion is not a hallmark of classical antiquity representations and not a trustworthy piece of evidence. Quiet dignified power on the other hand is more typical.

@yegonizer 5 жыл бұрын

I would pay to be an apprentice... The Spanish master... What a legend

@ssoomee 6 жыл бұрын

at 41:02, I got to the Met all the time, and I've seen that partiular bronze head in person; after watching the video, I can't help but realise how fake it looks, and on the description card, it even says something like 'private collection'! I would never have been suspicious before, but now it's too obvious to deny

@MarkH10 5 жыл бұрын

Mention to the Curator in passing how fine an example of The Spanish Master he has.

@judeau9151 3 жыл бұрын

33:53 “make sure we get a shot of the lights flashing, and make sure we get good audio too. It’s essential”

@JohnPorsbjerg 5 жыл бұрын

If people cared to buy art from alive artists then maybe artists wouldn’t have to make copies and fake old art

@zeroceiling 5 жыл бұрын

if they produce art that moves people with emotion and beauty...they will hopefully be discovered and rewarded...if these qualities are absent...then that is usually reflected in the value buyers place on their work... ...Look at Warhol...Poons, Lichtenstein...Koons....Basquiat...even Jackson Pollock and Edward Hopper...etc....all sold for millions while still alive....Koons now sells for $50 million plus for his work..

@jackiechan1914 3 жыл бұрын

@@zeroceiling stop the CAP. Many of the so called masterpieces were pretentious. You don't need to explain to someone why the art is important to incite appeal. Aesthetics is lost in art nowadays

@misium 6 жыл бұрын

The result of the super duper high radiation ct scan could be achieved simply by looking inside through the bottom of the head with an endoscope or camera to see that there was no patina there. What about for instance investigating the broken edge of the sculpture. A metallurgist versed in metal fatigue methods should be able to recognize when a surface came undone in one blow or a cut or was sculpted that way.

@taotzu1339 5 жыл бұрын

33:30-36:20 From the documentary, the CT scan took cross sectional scans of the entire bust. This would allow them to determine metal stress or fatigue lines from the inside to the outer layer. The material scientists present would have taken metal samples and chemically analyzed it. Modern material science is the product of a combination of discipline including metallurgy, chemistry, and physics. I think the documentary underplay the level of scientific sophistication that was needed to arrive at their conclusion.

@retroshark 5 жыл бұрын

@@taotzu1339 It would take several hours to educate an audience as to the specific techniques, the science behind them, and then their application within the context of the artists technique vs. that of the sophisticated art forger. I think those who understand the implications of conducting such a thorough analysis on the bust already have forgone the conclusion that any additional tests or means of positively confirming the result.

@liviasalgado 6 ай бұрын

I’m an artist and have studied semiology in college, in one book made by Umberto Eco he talks about putting attentions to little things like how the ears. Fingers etc are made, so it makes sense you see discrepancies on the way the hair is done, as an artist who has done sculpture and studied the masters the first thing that came to my mind was the patina that would have been the first thing I would have checked, I’m obsessed with forgeries and fakes, post truth etc, great doc

@anodyne57 4 ай бұрын

I've seen docs about forgeries in painting mention the ears as a dead giveaway in detecting or ascribing authenticity for certain painters. As if comparing signatures and idiosyncrasies in the way letters were formed.

@lazn9863 6 жыл бұрын

that dega in the toilet really tied the room together

@anodyne57 4 ай бұрын

I think you think that you are amusing. But you could be faking it.

@Sheevlord 3 жыл бұрын

I imagine this Spanish master reading Lehmann's book and taking lots of notes.

@waynebow-gu7wr 3 жыл бұрын

At the end of the day, 'masterpieces' aren't about art... they're about age. In a thousand years, the Spanish master will be worth millions !

@artchem1 Жыл бұрын

The " Spanish Forger", is passing down his " craft of how to " onto younger brillant and talented people, whom are making sculptures ......

@JUrtanschannel 5 жыл бұрын

Bold and daring, but interesting view of one side

@derekstocker6661 4 жыл бұрын

Excellent documentary (subtitles dire as usual) this video seems to prove that there are far more bust's and heads than there were statues possibly....

@sean..L 4 жыл бұрын

They say that the sculptures would be immediately worthless should they be proven fake but aren't they at least worth something on merit alone? it's impressive art whether genuine or not.

@drshaynescott 3 жыл бұрын

Probably not. Its like a knock off Louis Vuitton handbag. Not even worth 10% of the original

@sean..L 3 жыл бұрын

@@drshaynescott yeah but a sculpture takes a lot more time and effort than a leather handbag.

@martavdz4972 6 ай бұрын

"Worthless" was an exaggeration, but if a bronze head sold for 2 million is discovered to be a fake someone would be willing to pay one thousand for, it will seem almost worthless in comparison.

@duofutur7066 4 жыл бұрын

beautiful opera recording in the intro- anyone know the recording and artist?

@carolinepaquier8156 5 жыл бұрын

That was fascinating. What a fantastic character.....ta da....the SPANISH master. Can't wait for the movie!!!

@artchem1 Жыл бұрын

I've read about Forgeries at the "Getty Museum" , years ago,; while studying as a Conservator . Thank you for enlightening me to this Brilliant Work of Art Dealers' around Europe. Absolutely Brilliant. ! 🇬🇧⚠️

@brufu79-23 4 жыл бұрын

It might be that the Spanish Master deliberately creates deviations from the real antique busts. If he is caught he can state in court that it is obvious that this statues are not genuine. That might help to reduce his sentence a bit.

@jesusgarcia-qf4eb 2 жыл бұрын

I saw in other documentary about art painters that art dealers and collector seek on old or sick painters to buy their art so when they die the paintings will increase in value.

@chuckschillingvideos 2 жыл бұрын

Remember one thing - the mission of an art/antiquities dealer is to sell art and antiquities - NOT to authenticate them.

@johnmcclellan9020 3 жыл бұрын

Of course they sued you, You were making their art investment worthless. It was a matter of not losing their money. If the court can shut you up the rich will use it to nail you.

@clavacats2991 4 жыл бұрын

german guy so impressed you'd think he's the one making them...

@positivevibrations4382 5 жыл бұрын

Almost every scene where they are driving takes me whimsically back to Grand Tourismo 1,2 and 3. Nevertheless I find it so interesting that so much time and energy is put into identifying the fake pieces that may very well become ancient art in times to come. This Spanish Master though lacking integrity, is a thing of folklore.

@turokcalde 6 жыл бұрын

I recognize Alva Noto and Sakamoto's music in this. Nice!

@skandababy 4 жыл бұрын

meh

@adamtemple9417 4 жыл бұрын

The fine art world is a scam and I love forgeries being caught. It's like saying FU fo the rich bastard trying to get away with not paying taxes. I also think after they catch forgers they should go to the top of the art world and have a chance to prove themselves under their own style

@annereilley4892 5 жыл бұрын

So if a forgery is worthless, is it a crime to steal art if it's determined to be a forgery?

@petrabanjarnahor229 5 жыл бұрын

If i steal your shoes, is it still count as a crime?

@Sammyjeans1 5 жыл бұрын

Stealing isn't allowed.

@SuperBenette 5 жыл бұрын

To pick up a piece of filth on the floor of a art exibition is concidered stealing, it might belong to a painting that needs restoration. Your question does not make sense.

@skandababy 4 жыл бұрын

worth has NOTHING to do with stealing.

@delatroy 7 ай бұрын

Loving the Talented Mr. Ripley vibes

@rosemariehomeyerbente1832 5 жыл бұрын

Fascinating.

@alysfreeman11 6 жыл бұрын

Carbon dating can be done. Oxidation of metals can accurately work.

@callmeishmael7452 3 жыл бұрын

Not really. One never knows the conditions in which the piece was kept. By the sea? In a dry climate? Under sand for a thousand years?

@bullsquid42 5 жыл бұрын

So it's typical for the "Spanish master" that he never succeeds in creating a "real" classical head. But maybe they do it all the time. Just that these pieces wouldn't be suspected.

@gracegisel7718 4 жыл бұрын

Very interesting.

@geoffjoffy 2 жыл бұрын

Fascinating

@frank1fm634 4 жыл бұрын

Who ever the Spanish is he should go legit.He could make a fortune selling his own works to the art world and not be afraid of hiding in some dark alley.