Fakes ... Fakes ...

[NATA NOVA]

Exhibition of works by one of the most legendary rigged the XX century John Mayatta opened recently in the British capital. Self-taught artist, sold through leading auction houses - Christie's and Sotheby's - lot of good fakes, released from prison and began to earn an honest way, reports The Independent.

After the release of a talented copyist began organizing an exhibition of his work and it is officially sell the "real fake" the great masters, which even the most eminent experts in the field of art history could not distinguish from the originals.

In the 80 years of drawing teacher Mayyatt after the divorce from his wife left with two young children and began to earn a living selling copies of paintings by famous artists. Once one of the well-known auction houses took Mayyatta work for the original. Taking advantage of a mistake of specialists, painter flooded the market with forged art Impressionists, who took over all the originals.

Results for the period from 1987 to 1994 copyist could give about 200 paintings for their own masterpieces by Picasso, Van Gogh, Chagall, Matisse and Giacometti. After some time scam was revealed, and Mayyatt was sentenced to a year in prison. However, after serving four months, the artist was released prematurely.

It is noteworthy that the detective who arrested counterfeiter, was so delighted with his talent that he ordered his family portrait. And after the completion of the trial the artist's paintings became even his lawyers, prosecutors and many witnesses.

As a result Mayyatt discovered that selling "genuine fakes" are much more profitable than presenting them as originals and promised never to deceive the experts. For the safety net still on the back of each painting artist now in large letters, write: "forgery".

"You can buy a fake, and consider it the original ... I, for example, has one client in America who hung an original Van Gogh's right next to my copy and now entertains visitors that asked to guess which of the paintings is a forgery. Yet no one not guess, "- said the artist himself at the opening ceremony.

//NEWSru.com September 26, 2008, Mr.

That chance came across what I have mentioned many times ..