History of Counterfeiting Grigorieva

[Artem]

Case Basner : who, when and why forged painting by Boris Grigoriev ?

03/04/2014

After the first material for forging paintings by Boris Grigoriev , " restaurant " and the case in which fraud on a large scale art critic accused Elena Basner , I expected to interview Collector Andrey Vasiliev ( he the victim in this case , bought unreal Grigorieva for $ 250,000 ), the more that he wanted.

           We conspired . But neither one week , no later meeting never took place . The reason , I believe , lies in the fact , as I said Vasiliev himself , more than once if he will tell all , the case will fall apart before the court will not survive .

What , then, everything is built ? - There is a natural question. On nedogovorkah , half-truths ? As a result, Vasilyev said that he would tell me only after as a result receive the results of examinations of two paintings - " The restaurant " Boris Grigoriev of the Museum collection and "Awakening" N. Kalmakova . Which sensations expects these examinations Vasiliev - I do not know .

Thus , Vasiliev waiting. At the same time Elena Basner is under house arrest and is not sure she can talk to journalists or impossible. Therefore, information must be obtained from her friends . I was naturally interested in the details of the case , the reaction Basner numerous statements by Andrey Vasilyev , reaction to the contradictions between his statements and the fact that she says. In my opinion, she was silent for too long , letting everyone listen to monologues Andrey Vasilyev , and this silence , the complete absence of any objection by many - including , I believe , and the Investigative Committee - was seen as a recognition of the correctness Vasiliev. Say, and nothing to argue Basner .

So, the questions to the art historian , specialist in Russian painting of the first third of the twentieth century, Victor Pushchin .

- You were in court?

- I was on the pronouncement of the judgment.

- In the decision to leave the accused under house arrest Basner something else was new ?
- It is requested that the measure of restraint was changed and it was rejected . And Mr. Vasiliev ...

- And he was?

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- No, it was not, was his lawyer . He said that Andrei Vasilyev fully supports the prosecutor 's request not to change the measure of restraint , ie leave Elena Basner under house arrest. Without even walking . Elena Veniaminovna - just unhealthy people - in the sense of the physical . I believe Mr. Vasiliev uses Investigative Committee as the murder weapon Basner in the truest sense of the word. Because he knows the state of his health and he achieves that , she was convicted . Any real prison term for her is equivalent to a death sentence. Therefore it is necessary not only to protect the good name and reputation , but also her life.

- Yeah, that sounds ... What does Elena Basner , sitting at home ? What is she doing?

- Reading books . That just received copies of the two-volume Zdanevich copyrights .
- At the court hearing the issue of examination pattern Grigorieva " restaurant ", stored in the Russian Museum , was not raised ?

- As far as I know - no.
- Formula charges remained the same ?
- Nothing has changed.

- Basner still claims that it is not wrong to determine the authenticity of the painting Grigorieva , which she brought Aronson?
- The fact that in July 2009, this picture does not arouse suspicion Basner not only , but also the custodian of drawings Julia Solonovich belt . It did not cause suspicion and those independent people to whom Vasiliev at the same time made ​​a request to confirm or deny the authenticity . And as he said that he " himself an expert ," ** it as an expert picture as not to arouse suspicion . So there is nothing surprising in the fact that Elena Basner was sure and still rest assured that the picture brought her the summer of 2009 , Aronson and she looked authentic. Anyway , no one contrary is proved . The only evidence that it is not true , as you have already mentioned - this is probably the presence of phthalocyanine pigments. But when and whereby these pigments appeared in the picture - while nobody installed .

- And when they could appear ?

- If the picture before the sale took place the so-called commercial restoration ...
- But Basner same could not just looking at the picture, identify these pigments.
- Of course, I could not. It is installed only with special equipment that is not available in most museums.

- So is Basner showed a picture of Julia Aronson brought Solonovich that the Russian Museum is the custodian of Russian avant-garde paintings , in particular paintings and Grigorieva " restaurant "? And Solonovich also agreed that it authentic?
- Yes, and it means that this pattern then it seemed too real. Anyway, no word on what caused her authorship question , did not hear from her .

- Andrey Vasilyev doubt if not the existence of Aronson ( although I got independent confirmation that the summer of 2009, Aronson came to St. Petersburg and many reported paintings ), then what exactly Aronson in July 2009, brought a picture Grigorieva Basner . In contrast, Andrei Vasilyev , told me put forward another version : Basner brought a picture N. Sounds intriguing.
- But this gentleman N in this transaction did not fixed. Vasiliev had not even called . Where is he, who is he? Aronson contacted Basner , and she asked him to show her the painting in St. Petersburg, when she will return here . Basner dealt with Aronson , N no it did not address. And what leads Vasiliev evidence that it came to Basner N? And he himself Vasiliev Aronson found a telephone number for which the investigator gave Elena Veniaminovna (and he , respectively , the investigators learned ?) .

- The program " News of the Week " of February 16, a statement was made by Yuri Kolennikova , senior investigator of the 2nd Investigation Unit to investigate critical cases GSM RF IC in St. Petersburg . He said : "The evidence of guilt Basner reduced to the fact that Basner selling this picture, knew knew it - a copy as the original , it has been repeatedly seen in the Russian Museum ».

- The investigation claims that Basner obviously knew that the picture is false . Question : Where is the consequence may know ? And who of the transaction participants could know about it ? This could only know Mr. N, which , according to the statement Vasilyeva, gave the picture for examination and was told that a fake picture . But Mr. N is not a party to the transaction , even according to Vasiliev. Therefore, the claim that any of them knew that the fake picture , completely unfounded .

- Okay, but Basner Grigorieva saw a picture in the Russian Museum ? Yes or no?

- Basner was a member of the Admission Committee in the collection Okuneva belt . The Commission consisted of five more people: chief curator , conservator , library staff , notary and official of the department of culture . Collection took , and it was distributed to individual funds , in accordance with the technique of execution . Painting Grigorieva " restaurant " was sent to the department of drawing. Everything! Basner Grigorieva this work is no longer seen. Storage card was EN Selizarova , she worked attribution . Vasilyev claimed that the picture in the 1980s, " was described in the catalog ," the editor of which was Basner (see Latynina said article ) .
Basner is the only author of the preface , and it does not mention any Grigoriev, nor his picture was not Basner and editor of the catalog. In a television interview all confirmed Deputy Director Kit Petrova . Preparing for an exhibition of works Grigorieva Basner all 25 years in the timing worked in the painting , not drawing - is a description for the catalog only for paintings . A picture Grigorieva " restaurant " was kept at all in another department . So Vasiliev distorted picture of the actual order to beautifully formed criminal plot with Basner - the main criminal. Yes, saw a picture of Basner Grigorieva during acceptance Okuneva collection . But it was something almost 30 years!
Besides Vasiliev announced that the painting " The restaurant " from the collection in Okuneva belt carefully hid and did not show even Tamara Galeeva , the author of a monograph on Boris Grigoriev . Just recently , on February 18 this year , she Galeeva this conspiracy does not confirm approval Vasilyeva - her picture showed . That is hard Vasilev creates criminal plot method lies. And so in many details .
For example, he said that in 2007 ordered a Basner MFN picture illustration with burtsevskogo magazine. Sounds interesting. In fact she did for many digital copies of books , albums, catalogs, magazines ... Including all journals Burceva . The existence of this source base literally knew all of her friends and colleagues, with whom she generously shared the information it has . It is a necessary part of the normal research. And from this Vassiliev is a direct fit the facts for the desired version that Basner - crook , like back in 2007, ready for the crime in 2009 .

- Well, Julia Solonovich , curator of the figure, remembered work Grigorieva ? In 2009, Basner showed her a picture Grigorieva delivered by Aronson and Solonovich , it turns out, also did not remember that she had in storage there like ?

- In possession of a huge amount of work , it's a museum , not a private collection of works may be 10,000 or more. And all this is not viewed continuously , every day. In all parts of the schedules are stored in folders that are hidden in closed cabinets away from light and dust. You can see the picture when he took office and returning the fund before leaving work . I think these features Vasiliev understand, but investigators promotes a version in which all of this is ignored. Randomness deliberately transformed into evil machinations , creating the offense does not correspond to what happened in reality.

- Here Aronson brings Basner picture. Its origin , provenance Similar pictures?

- As far as I know , Aronson said that this picture , which he had inherited , and Basner link this information collection Timofeev. The fact that in the mid-1980s Basner haunted house, which houses a collection of works Grigorieva purchased from Burceva psychiatrist and collector Timofeev . Basner led to the same researchers , in particular, Tamara Galeev . Galeeva told that there was a lot of work Grigorieva - including a series of his Parisian "Cafe" in 1913 . And when she saw a picture of Basner , brought Aronson , she mistakenly thought it was a thing of that collection Timofeev. Mistaken, did not remember exactly for 30 years , and where she had seen that . Okuneva collection Timofeev collection ...

The whole cycle kafeyny Grigorieva work similar in technique to the manner ... This unintentional mistake underlies all further vicissitudes . But to say that all this is there evil intent can only unscrupulous people . A consequence incriminates a result of the crime , which in reality is irrelevant .
Incidentally, Basner not say Shumakov about his association with the collection Timofeev , and Vasilyev , by the way , and then there was exactly the same association . He came up with this provenance . And that's what ultimately comes out. And Basner , and Vasilyev , who " himself expert" made ​​a similar error: Grigorieva erected provenance paintings to the collection Timofeev , ie to the most Bourtzev . The error in the interpretation of Basner Vasilyeva - it malice and fraud , and Vasilyeva own fault in his own interpretation - an innocent mistake.

- Aronson eventually said that in his garage is a lot of Russian avant-garde paintings remaining from Hessia Abramovna grandmother . And something about it know ?

- I - no. Consequence and would ask . As well as by Aronson : if he is not a front face , the owner whether he works Grigorieva , whether it came Aronson , not a man who identified himself as Aronson , who for Aronson , possibly hiding ? But why is this honesty Aronson and all his acts is now responsible Basner ?

- The press wrote that Basner requested SHumakova hide from Vasilieva her name - as the person who said that the picture Grigorieva " restaurant " authentic. It is so ?

- As far as I know , this is not true . But in general, the non-disclosure of names of participants of the transaction is the basis of its confidentiality. So accepted . That is, the names of experts buyers do not ask the mediators and mediators are not called . Such is the usual ethics in relationships .

- I mean, she did not ask SHumakova that he did not call her name Vasilyev - because it means?

- Assume Basner SHumakova still asked not to disclose her name . Then , as soon as she wanted to remain anonymous , it will no longer be admitted to participate , written evidence remained the same . And Basner could generally deny everything. But when Vasiliev asked her , she just said to him, yes , I saw this picture. Incidentally, Vasilyev referred to the program " Man and Law " 2011 October 6 . Video is on the Internet . Shumakov in this program does not say anywhere that Basner asked him to hide the fact that she had seen the picture. Apparently, this lie is needed in order to strengthen the impression of deliberate actions Basner . But they just were not.
- was also discussed that Basner not call names Aronson .
- Surnames also disclose pending. Basner had no idea that the purchaser of the painting is Andrey Vasilyev . Shumakov she did not tell , and she did not ask. Later Vasiliev became ensure that she called the name of the seller, ie, violated the confidentiality of the transaction. Aronson Basner called only after the request of the investigator.
- A can not be that sold Andrei Vasilyev picture was copied from the one that is stored in a Russian museum? This version suggests.

- Vasiliev does not bother to confirm this statement with facts. Meanwhile, if it were so, then the two paintings would have to be the same size , colors , composition and proportions of the pattern . In fact, these works vary in size : 62.2 h79 , 7 Vasilyev and 53.3 x70 , 3 in the SRM, ie linear dimensions "copies" are 9 cm in length and width is more "original" .
Judging by the slides , their colors are different. And thirdly , the paintings differ from each other on the proportions of the composition and detail drawing. In such a situation is difficult to talk about copying . It is especially difficult for a valid comparison of colors as Okunevskaya picture was subjected to belt restoration, as a result of which it has become more striking look .
Significant difference from the picture Vasilievka Okunev is availability of a detailed preparatory drawing , which is absent in the Okunev things. According to workers belt engaged by comparing these two works , preparatory detail drawing is such that it could not be done with reproduction Burceva . At the same time, unlike Okunev painting reproductions from Burceva proportions composition at the time made ​​employees Belt describe it as a variant of genuine things , which is reflected in the exhibition catalog Okuneva meeting . Therefore, based on the available data there are serious grounds to assert that the belt is original, reproduced in the illustration Burceva and that preparatory drawing on Vasilievka picture was made precisely with Okunev things. And even more so there is no reason to say that it was done after receipt Okunev things in SRM, and not before .
Logical to assume that there is another similar pattern , which at different times by different artists copies were made , one of which was purchased at a thrift shop Okunev and another Vasiliev. Even earlier with the same things located where the unknown was probably done and illustration , reproduced in the magazine Burceva . In art history circles rumors about this work , stored in one of the private collections , but reliable information is , unfortunately, no .
Job, got to Mr. Vasiliev (if false ) did falsifiers hardly had access to Okunev things. That's why Vasilevsky " Grigoriev " differs in size from the museum " Grigorieva ." Make clone of museum work - a thankless for counterfeiters , because at any moment museum piece can be set or published, and then lost the whole combination with fake. So counterfeiters could not be associated with the museum.

But even if we assume it was copied , then what's Ms. Basner ? Vasiliev or wants to say that she made ​​a copy of their own hands ? So it's actually much harder. And it is quite clear that to manufacture fake Basner irrelevant .

- A Vasilyev said that there are other parameters indicate forgery . What ?
- Let him say . Let him show conclusion.

- I asked , but he did not say.
- If he does not say so , it is unprofitable . He did not say much of that to his advantage .
- It remains to determine the collector Vasilyeva its relation to different interpretations versions , find out who the N, whether he was in reality , why he appeared and whether it was an attempt to resale, and if so, when.
** This phrase see in the material : Latynina Yu Case Elena Basner Market fake paintings acquired no less scope than the market false theses //Novaya Gazeta . 2014 . February 14. number 16

Help
Basner briefly about the case . According to the version of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation , Andrey Vasilyev collector acquired in 2009 painting by Boris Grigoriev , " restaurant " (1913 ) . In 2010, Vasilyev learned that it is a fake . Intermediary in the purchase paintings for Michael Aronson made ​​Leonid Shumakov ( Director, " The Golden Age" ) . Verbally confirmed the authenticity of the paintings Shumakov Elena Basner (but Vasiliev did not know ) . When Vasiliev learned that paid 250 thousand dollars for a fake , he tried to get at their money SHumakova . He appealed to the police , filed a civil action against Shumakov . Finally , the collector got an appointment with the head of the Russian Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin . Soon she was arrested Basner , which was then sent under house arrest.

     http://www.online812.ru/2014/03/03/025/

[khmelev]

interesting article . I especially liked this one fragment :
" The press wrote that Basner requested SHumakova hide from Vasilieva her name - as the person who said that the picture Grigorieva " restaurant " authentic. Is that so?
- As far as I know , this is not true . But in general, the non-disclosure of names of participants of the transaction is the basis of its confidentiality. So accepted . That is, the names of experts buyers do not ask the mediators and mediators are not called . Such is the usual ethics in relationships .

***
Given that the " Victor Pushchin art " does not exist in nature. Ie an alias that conceals someone unknown , but counted - because you can not tell nickname, nickname ? - That the practices described it rather peculiar to some gopkompanii .
Once again - " the names of experts buyers do not ask the mediators and mediators are not called . Such ordinary ethics of relationships. "
Wow ethics ! <! - ~ 1 ~ ->

[Питер-С]

Сообщение от khmelev

I think you are confused <! - ~ 1 ~ ->
So do not confuse and wait like all of us , the results of the investigation.
Or do you think that it should be stopped or even finish?
Share a link to an article somewhere. And we will think that you are the Zlatonosov <! - ~ 1 ~ ->

Not Zlatonosov and Zolotonosov . Here link ....

Added after 11 minutes

Сообщение от khmelev

... given the fact that "the critic Victor Leo" does not exist in nature.
Ie
an alias

Yes indeed, very much like the fact that "Victor Leo" - a pseudonym.
Too many important details which can only know the person who is inside the event ...

[khmelev]

think accomplice <! - ~ 1 ~ ->

[Питер-С]

Сообщение от khmelev

... again - "the names of experts buyers do not ask the mediators and mediators are not called. Such is the usual ethics in relationships."

khmelev, and how do you personally think Andrey Vasilyev asked the name of the expert?
<! - ~ 10 ->

[khmelev]

I'm pretty closely following this story . And read many times that featured Solonovich surname . This curator of graphic belt . In my opinion , the person responsible and more adequate than Basner . Also , the thing with impeccable provenance , which sells well-known person , directly saying that thing from the old collection. Plus a pre- publication in the source ...
Well, would that thing bumazhonka signed Basner or Valyaeva or Jafarova ? And then what? Then it would be a full pipe , p.ch. any court would recognize the difference of opinion here , caveat emptor , etc.
  IMHO, this incident and so unique that Basner not written examination. Would do it and we would not be discussing this story. A mb thing for a long time would be sold on any French or American auction for 300 thousand euros <! - ~ 1 ~ ->
Just then the whole point of the absence of expertise. And that thing ride through Grabar . Let naive people looking elsewhere . Please try to get papers in Grabar, and then diluted with the buyer. Is that - is not a fraud ?

[K-Maler]

Сообщение от khmelev

First, try to get the paper in the Grabar, and then diluted with the buyer.
Is that - is not a fraud?

Furthermore, V.Puschin no mention that Basner received a large sum for their expertise "vnaglyadku" without papers.
This is what ethics?

[Кирилл Сызранский]

Сообщение от khmelev; 3036771"

Given the fact that "the critic Victor Leo " does not exist in nature. Ie an alias that conceals someone unknown , but counted - because you can not tell nickname, nickname ? - That the practices described it rather peculiar to some gopkompanii .

This " art historian Leo " Same - hop company , it's clear.

[Маруся]

Amn here liked this piece :

Сообщение от Artem; 3036691"

Elena Basner is under house arrest and is not sure she can talk to journalists or can not. Therefore, information must be obtained from her friends .
So, the questions to the art historian , specialist in Russian painting of the first third of the twentieth century, Victor Pushchin .

[khmelev]

I think that the investigator have a phone and he can call and define the boundaries of communication with journalists, but it is obviously not the case.
When the position that took Basner, any comment may cause some "tectonic shifts."
So it is better to keep silent.