Fakes, Frauds, and Finds and the Search for Lost Treasures
by Philip Mould
Viking, 2010
Comments: Fine art paintings are some of the most valuable artifacts of human creative endeavor, yet the factors that shape their value are often complex and subjective. This book from a respected British art dealer presents a series of stories about notable paintings whose perceived worth rapidly changed from one extreme to another, primarily through the efforts of dealers, collectors, historians, restorers, and scientists who study them. In some cases paintings that had been misidentified as lesser works were discovered to be by great masters instead, or paintings believed to be authentic were shockingly found to be fake, and in other cases paintings that had been lost in obscurity were rediscovered as treasured masterpieces. In all cases the stories behind how the true provenance of each work was revealed are fascinating.
Although some of the greatest names in painting are involved -- Rembrandt, Gainsborough, Norman Rockwell, Winslow Homer, and others -- the main focus of the book is on the experts who make the identification, restoration, and procurement of these works possible. Essentially, as the title implies, they are detectives who use a wide range of investigative tools to uncover or establish the "truth" of a painting, thus realigning its value and reputation, often in extraordinary ways. And as you might expect, many of the players are quite unconventional characters who lend much human interest to the stories. If you enjoy both fine art and a good mystery, then this book for you.
Copy Notes: Hardback, first American edition, color plates
