Process in Paris
 

July 5 in Paris suburb Kreteye process began over the 12-th suspects in the illegal trade in counterfeit paintings, valued at several million euros.
The suspects, aged 32 to 76 years charged that between 1997 and 2005 sold more than 100 fake paintings by Picasso, Chagall, Dali and other famous artists, posing as their impoverished heirs.
This is the second hearing. The first was held on 1 February but was postponed to July 5, because one of the main accused was unable to attend the trial, since it was at this time in a Spanish prison on charges of drug trafficking.
The first interrogated the suspects, artist Guy Reeb, argues that served as a fake at the request of mediators, but with the customers he was not familiar. "I forged blade and nothing more!" - He said.
As an advocate of victims of about 20 people. Some of them have spent about 300,000 euros for buying paintings, which they regarded as originals.
The existence of the artist, who lived in the Paris suburb of Saint-Mande, the police discovered in 2004 the first year, and thus came out on the trail of a criminal network. Reeb took part in the forgery of paintings commissioned by the Paris art-dealer.
Photo: Bernard Buffet: left - the original, right - fake
(RFIInternet site)
Comrades of France did not prompt than it was over?

Signed killed !:D

A French court gave a two-year prison artist forges paintings Chagall and Picasso. 61-year-old Guy Ribs (Guy Ribes) was a member of a criminal gang, in 1997-2005 sells about a hundred fakes. Fraudsters deceived victims, posing as the heirs of collectors. Prices for works sometimes reached 300 thousand euros.
However falsifier been convicted 11 of his associates. Ribs and the gang's ringleader, 55-year-old art dealer Robalya Pascal (Pascal Robaglia), will have to pay damages in the amount of 900 thousand euros (1,16 million dollars).
Ribs told the court that he was good at drawing since childhood and started writing a fake in 1975 - the "amusement" and also because of his own paintings are not sold. According to him, it was easier to make copies than trying to sell their work to those who do not understand. Criminal lawyer Antonin Levy (Antonin Levy) said that the court recognized his talent and the defendant saw in him "an artist, and not just forger».
(ARTinvestment.RU
http://artinvestment.ru/news/artnews...o_forgers.html)

Look for the woman
 

If any of the eleven accomplices are no women, then Pascal Robagliya only zits chairman.

Brain and the soul of the "Private Company" was a woman and it must be noted, not without some charm.

He represented her as a wife, she did - as a husband. They had (most likely, they were shooting) detached two-storey stone mansion in a wealthy suburb of Paris Vizzini. Many artists dream of an exhibition it is there, because it is in their presentation of a gold mine.

A snug house, furnished with stylish antique furniture and paintings uveshenny, is a small museum, with the only difference being that all the exhibits there, including the same furniture and even cutlery, your desire to sell.

Regularly they held receptions there, which invited potential buyers.

She - quite well versed in the psychology of people, easily a member of the trust, never do not impose anything, but merely called attention to this or any other trifle, and willingly shared with you in your admiration.

He - not very clever, always overexcited and fidgety type face poluobizhennogo schoolboy and whine in the tone of voice, was literally obsessed with, Provisional Government you anything. Once he latched on to a visitor accidentally glance at the samovar, and would not let him, circling around it, flooding the streams of incoherent phrases, extravagant gestures, while a visitor to get rid of him, paid some money.

If you meet them in the house came from the Russian briefcase in hand, the excitation Monsieur Rabagliya no bounds. He could not bring himself to look away from the burden visitor. It seemed that a portfolio full of dollar bills. Well, when the owner of the portfolio was leaving the house without buying anything, Pascal hysterics, which continued after him repeatedly on the phone until the answering machine does not break his diatribes.

I should add that exhibit in this mini-museum on sale from reception to reception changed. Madame had a natural taste and skill hanging. All the paintings and objects in the house were the only possible place.
Was present at the exhibition of paintings perfectly matched 30-40-ies of artists of Russian origin. I remember the huge vertical pattern Mansurov, several different Sharshunov, effective, and too big Lanskoy etc. I do not think that all the paintings belonged to them. Most likely the first-class work were taken on commission. It's a way to trade - party-seyl in an elegant bourgeois interior, under the excellent champagne, delicious petits fours and muted, unobtrusive music.

I've heard (and seen photos) that the wife of a rich man arranges something similar in their home near Moscow. Overall, not bad, but before the French charm still falls short.