"Masterpieces of fraud" in Moscow, playing ambitions. 24/04/2012, 15:
© Photo: BBC News
In Moscow, an exhibition of "Masterpieces of forgery." She forced to think seriously and professionals, and collectors and amateurs of painting. About "The Voice of Russia," said art critic Hope Gubin (AUDIO)
What kept the leading museums of the world? Who can guarantee that a work of art that go under the hammer for fabulous sums of money are true? What is the amount of black antique market?
Aivazovsky, Roerich, Bogolyubov, Kustodiev, Lagorio. 15 years after the purchase of paintings by famous Russian artists of the Moscow collector Igor Vozyakov found that most of the pictures - fake: 9 out of 15 turned out to be fake!
And what is surprising: in the examinations to confirm their authenticity, and the findings which refute the brush accessory classics are the same signature. In fact, no one is responsible for the accuracy of examination, said in an interview with "Voice of Russia" Hope art Gubin:
"I would not want to believe that there is some kind of a big machine called an underground antique market, where a bunch of work to the experts, dealers, antique dealers, but it can be. I do not think that a man who has worked for many years, such as in the famous Moscow Tretyakov Gallery, will not be able to distinguish from the real Bogolyubov fake - even if it is a very good copy. Why do we have raised this issue? Because we want to stop the black market in antiquities, if it exists, and say that in Russia, and world, there is a huge problem with the examination: for it is no obligation - an administrative, not criminal. Judge, if anything, can simply refer to the human factor. But when it comes to masterpieces, the system should work well. "
Meanwhile, Hope Gubin admits that at the Moscow exhibition presents also a kind masterpieces.
"We are not casually called the exhibition" Masterpieces of fraud, "because all of these pictures really masterpieces. They are written not by Roerich, not Aivazovsky, but we applaud these masters! If these artists sign of their real names, they were known around the world. And of course, these pictures have artistic value, some are written in old canvases, it's really the 19th century - perhaps they wrote some of the pupils of the great artists. A part of the paintings have already written in the 20th century, in the 70s . And if these artists are alive and well, they may come to the exhibition to see their work incognito. "
The material value of counterfeit masterpieces still a fraction of the originals - at least for a few "zeros". It is clear that motivates participants collusion when it comes to fraud. Critics believe that the authors of brilliant fakes, there are other reasons - not only acquisitive, says Hope Gubin:
"People who are fake masterpieces that an incredibly ambitious. Joke of the experts on the international community of art historians, antique dealers, dealers, collectors, patrons - for this, of course, need serious ambitions. These people are creative, bright and very talented. Even a genius! Honestly it would be very interesting to meet them. "
There is no certainty that such a meeting was held in a friendly spirit, if, for example, a prominent Russian businessman and collector Viktor Vekselberg, the author spoke with a fake canvas "Odalisque." He acquired his real job as an artist Boris Kustodiev for 2.9 million dollars at auction, "Christie" in London.
Russian oligarch sued the famous auction house. The first court session held in May, and specialists sincerely hope that Vekselberg will win the case. Perhaps, then, the auction houses will be responsible for what they sell. In many cases, the great works of Russian artists, is in reality a "masterpiece fakes," is come up at foreign auctions.
http://rus.ruvr.ru/2012_04_24/72765433/