[Черномашенцев Владимир]

Surprisingly (or not surprised?) That the main expert on Vermeer and numerous art dealers had passed so many fakes, thrown on the market in fairly short time 1938-1943 years.

For example, notorious for Russia Abraham Bredius played a major role in the legalization of fake Vermeer. As it was called, authoritative Dutch art historian torzhestoval when he was brought to espertizu painting "Christ at Emmaus" made Megerenom: "It's a delightful moment in the life of an art lover, when he suddenly turns to a hitherto unknown painting of the great master, untouched , on the original canvas, without any trace of the restoration, as she left the workshop. do not even need a signature to make sure that we are dealing with shevevrom Jan Vermeer's Delft. Every inch of its painted surface painting shows - this is Vermeer. In no other product you will not find such an understanding bibileyskoy history. " in 1938.

Bredius had fallen into all the traps. He not only gave a positive opinion, but wrote an article in the authoritative magazine on the art of "Burlington store, but also persuaded the Museum Boijmans in Rotterdam buy" Christ at Emmaus, "and even made a substantial sum from his personal funds.

Why Bredius notorious for Russia?

This was an authority since 1899 and runs a very ugly story. In 1899, a Brediusu, who was already in the infallibility of assessments was nicknamed the "Pope", turned russsky kolektsioner Dmitry Shchukin, a brother of the famous collector of Impressionists. He showed the Dutchman now "Allegory of Faith", that I found in an antique shop during his trip to Europe, and asked, rather than Vermeer it? Bredius ridiculed naive seeker schedevrov and advised as soon as possible to sell a mediocre thing. Shchukin obeyed authoritative guru and put it on sale.
What was surprising Russian collector, received the news that now for only 700 stamps bought himself Bredius! But even more surprised Shchukin, when the "Pope" declared "Allegory of Faith" the work of Vermeer. Russia has lost only vozmozhnot get a picture of the great Dutchman.

Bredius to give his ugly deed patriotic character, gave a picture to the Museum Boijmans in Rotterdam. But thirty years later unexpectedly revealed that Bredius had no intention to give up ownership of the "Allegory of Faith": she was in a museum only in temporary storage.

In 1928, Bredius sold now for 300 thousand dollars U.S. Colonel Michael Fridzamu, and now it adorns the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. The money Bredius went to Monaco to live out life in peace and luxury, and the Dutch offended more than once Russian, which was simply not up to it. "Opening" for the Netherlands counterfeit "Christ at Emmaus" allows old credibility "Pope" to rehabilitate in the eyes of fellow citizens. Not accidentally added a Bredlius this picture just to the Museum Boijmans, where he had previously sold in America Shukin Wermer.


Statement by the book Grigory Kozlov Assassination of Art. Art-detective ", publisher" Word ", 2007.