Dealer
Dealer Andrew has a nasty habit of start flapping door.
- The first rule of our club: everything you say true, - said Andrey quietly, often looking back and covering the mouth with his hand. - The second rule: even if you speak the truth, it is still true.
He glanced suspiciously at the waitress that changes us ashtray. Looking at his shifty eyes and a broken nose, I am also starting to get nervous, as if it comes to the party of heroin. But Andrei another commodity - we are discussing the white lead, plasticizers and especially the weaving of linen. Andrey - paintings dealer end of XIX century. There, he specialized in antiques, in St. Petersburg, about two hundred people. Objective dealer is cheaper to buy now from the owner or another dealer and resell at a higher price to the client. Some work within the city, others are transported from abroad. Sources from all different and often resistant, including the sources of counterfeiting. Although the falshake little is known, except that his lot and that the hearing are only the most outrageous stories.
In October last year, were arrested the owners of the Moscow salon "Russian Collection" wife of the Transfiguration, who sold the work of Russian artists of the late XIX century, in fact, caught dyed canvases of lesser-known Western artists. One of the most authoritative experts of the Tretyakov Gallery, Vladimir Petrov, recently acknowledged that some twenty paintings, the last of his examination, in fact, turned out to be fakes. Peter first told about a new method of fraud, so-called Russification - perelitsovke works of western artists for paintings of the classics of Russian academic school. Thus, Aivazovsky made from the French and Italians, and Shishkin - artists from the Düsseldorf School.
European aid
Types of fraud there is a huge amount. Write now Shishkina from scratch - the process incredibly laborious. It's much easier to buy on the cheap now unknown Russian and Western artists from the same period and a similar style and give her Shishkin, a forged signature, or by rewriting and modifying some details. However, many dealers predict that in five years will be extremely popular already use European masters, and under them will "Europeanized" by unknown Russian artists. Such fraud is very difficult to calculate, because all the materials used and the old paint and meet the required time period. Often imitated the legend, or provenance, pictures, erased or tinkering something in the documents accompanying it. You can fake the old catalog, squeezed there aged photograph just written falshaka, and make this directory in the library or museum archives.
Subsequently, a reference to this directory will be the best proof of the authenticity of work. That is the way in England not so long ago supplied the bogus biography of Giacometti - inserting aged replica photos in the archives of the Tate. You can finally forge expert advice or to make multiple copies of the paintings, which took the examination and then to give those copies of the original.
If falshak still started again, here too there are lots of options. One of the most common species - a fake-compilation, paintings, composed of elements of several works of forgery artist. Often write free improvisation on a given author - stylistically adjusted, on the old materials or schischennoy picture of the artist of the period.
First person
- The buzz began after Putin - Andrei says, referring to the scandal with fake Aivazovsky, discovered last year in the president's collection - but for those who have long been working with antiques, shaft falshakov not a secret. Everyone wants a picture "The Rooks Have Arrived" or "Morning in a Pine Forest", and not all realize that such pictures are stored in museums. This construction market.
In Russia the market of antiques began spontaneously formed in the 90 years, at a time when you really could be cheaply bought from grandmothers Vasnetsov or Shishkin. Today, dealers bite elbows, remembering that Aivazovsky in 1989 cost $ 40000. In 2002, he had already sold for $ 1.3 million in 2004 - for $ 2.1 million, then the random Aivazovsky ended, but the total amount of Russian antiques market reached $ 1 billion.
And this is not the limit - in a year prices are growing at least 15-20%. Works academics, the Wanderers a few years, increased in price by 30-40 times. Works of artists of the early XX century risen tenfold in the last twelve months.
- We are with petrodollars throughout Europe have put in an uncomfortable situation - whispers Andrew - incredibly inflated prices, but people continue to take. I think they sweat, ooze money. Just run and pick them up - scrape with a scraper.
Million population
Lists of the most expensive artists are made regularly, but they are quite conventional, as compiled by the auction sale of the Russian Trading Sotheby's and Christie's, and most work-class is still sold in a private domain, from the floors, and much more. Chagall, Malevich and Filonov facing tens of millions of dollars, appear out of the lists simply because of their work in the market there. But the most expensive, according to the auction rankings, is now regarded Mashkov, whose work was sold at Sotheby's for $ 3.6 million. Next on the auction charts are Boris Kustodiev ($ 2.9 million), Konstantin Somov ($ 2.2 million), Isaac Levitan ($ 2.1 million), Vladimir Makovsky, Konstantin Korovin, Robert Falk, Ivan Aivazovsky, Boris Grigoriev, Peter Konchalovsky ($ 1.4 million). The conventionality of this rating is obvious: in Moscow, Repin was recently sold for $ 4 million, for $ 2,5 Bryullov and Shishkin for $ 3. Form certain clip art, prices of which range from 1 to 4 million dollars. This is, firstly, the artists of the Russian academic school, familiar to all of the textbook "Native Speech", and, secondly, the artists of the early twentieth century associations "Jack of Diamonds" and "Blue Rose". In recent works prices are currently increasing rapidly.
Field of dreams
- There are several shepherds, who they rule, where to go around the herd. Now they thrashed the price of "Jack of Diamonds" is a deliberate and thoughtful move. And this does not mean that the work is actually worth the money. Simply said, the shepherds and the sheep rushed after them, - commented Andrew. Antiques attractive in that works on the principle of the field of miracles: I will put two hundred thousand, you can get four a year. Wild money cause backlash: by some estimates, counterfeiting now appear in every other transaction. Man, first time buying antiques, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred becomes a sham.
- Few in this are recognized, - says Andrey. - Who wants to admit that he gave half of the object, not worth thousands? But this does not mean that, once broken off, people will throw everything into tears and run away. No, he would walk, look for the originals, and perhaps the next time do not lohanetsya. The buyer - a portrait of his work: for a copy of a fool is a fool, a specialist, even buying falshak not allow a copy was crappy.
Andrew - specialist. He can talk for hours about the history of pigments, on how to distinguish between white lead and zinc from what time corresponds to one or the other craquelure - a microscopic network of cracks on the canvas. He knows as much as the artists themselves. Or more
- With the artist is no problem. An experienced person can do the work for 2-3 days, and pasty painted paintings written in five easels: while one is drying, paint the other. Problem could be material. Subframes unusual shape - is a nightmare, we run them to look.
The canvas is easier, but you need some weaving, coinciding with the author. In principle, the old canvas to get it easy: take the XVIII century, painted ceilings, remove the canvas and brushes the old paintings. Or abroad buying unnecessary paintings by unknown artists, and write over them. Then it all depends on who knows more - poddelschik or expert.
Rules of the Game
Because of the huge number of fakes in recent times has changed the very principle of the acquisition of paintings. Previously paramount importance was the quality of the painting, now the principal were the "paper" - the accompanying picture of the documents confirming its provenance (origin), and certificates with the experts' opinions about the authenticity of the painting. Today, nobody would buy any of Malevich, or Makovsky, if the picture is not at least three expert opinions. As a result, the picture grows over a pile of documents, and already it is unclear what, in fact, people gather - pictures or certificates. The best guarantee of the authenticity of things - is the ability to accurately recover its history after leaving the workshop. That is, if you are offered Filonov and say it, say, my grandfather bought a grandmother in the market, you need to know what Filonov in principle nothing to sell, and therefore it is impossible. Examination in Russia are doing in three places: in the Russian Museum, the Tretyakov Gallery and the Grabar Center in Moscow. Each expert has his own specialization. For example, if you buy Bryullov - must apply to the Russian Museum, Korovin - Center Grabar. With Ayvazovsky best to go to the Tretyakov Gallery to the same Vladimir Petrov, chief of the country specialist on the Russian landscape of the XIX century. Expert opinion - no more than a mere human opinion, and not a single expert who made a mistake during their career at least once. Therefore, in every opinion is a phrase: "The expert has the right to make mistakes.
- Buying now, every time you run through a mine field, regularly blows up and licking his wounds, and always will be, - says Andrey. - Terribly nervous, exhausting exercise.
At lumen
Unlike dealers artists earn little. There is even a concept work days: day of the artist is $ 150, maximum - 200. In general, the average size of the dealer cost of $ 800-1000, and Andrew believes that this is true: the dealer receives payment for risk, and the name of the author of this buyer never know.
- Is it possible and cheaper to buy, it depends on you. But it is important to choose the right. The artist makes reproduction, painted in oils, and important internal pie - the entire process, which then lights up on the devices. And this may well be done only by restorers.
Restorers - gray cardinals antique world. They are trained at the Academy of Arts and School of. Roerich (formerly Serov), and more students practiced in the old pictures - let second-rate, from the store, but on the original XVIII-XIX centuries. MAZ such work is impossible without specific recommendations mentor, who vouched for the young and is responsible for his mistakes over the years. Community restorers like the clan, and it's not a nepotism, too great a risk and too high rates. Among collectors and dealers restorers often considered the best independent experts.
By working in the Manege Alexander Kornyakova for examination treated regularly. On his abilities are legendary. I was told, as he checked almost certainly Korovin, written on the old materials and equipped with a formal examination, and attribution.
- All is well, - said Kornyakov - but that's a carnation on a stretcher so bent that it is not no Korovin, and the girl Natasha 3rd course of the Academy. Because only those pinks Natasha so bends. I remind him this story in the Manege, in restorative workshop with semicircular arched windows overlooking directly at the surface of the service entrance. Room crowded with canvases in various stages of restoration, in the corner - permanent Aivazovsky.
- It often happens that once you see exactly who did it - a sly smile Kornyakov - you see a certain style, you'll find the shop. Uninitiated it may seem a miracle. I was once asked to look at the collection of German painting of the last quarter of the XIX century. All one time, from one house. The owners say: "My grandfather collected, and Dad helped. I listened to this overture - it is clear that the tale, as always, Hoffman - and ask: "And what rank was the man who brought it? Three or four diamond? "In response - silence. You see, when returning from Germany, the officer could send a parcel, the colonel could send a box, the general could send a car.
In this house did not smell compartment. We go into the next room, there on the wall - a portrait in a mourning frame. Ribbons and four black diamond. They both looked at me! Nothing complicated because no. Kornyakov, intelligent, tall man of fifty, began his career in the Russian Museum, which restored later work Filonova written glued drawing paper, curled up in a tough, as millimeter crystal scrolls. He is a professional of the highest class, and his stories resemble a detective story, a picaresque novel. Pouring tea and laying on a plate cake basket, he continued quietly:
- We must know that what is typical. Cracelures - those cracks - also differ. We Aivazovsky, for example, oily soil, and many of those who falsifies, write to adhesives. Cracelures while attending the squares, not circles, is seen. Generally craquelure is simple - remove the canvas and break it on the corner of the table or pull through the back of the chair. But if you know how to be real, you fake not vtyuhat. Occur, and very good work - in a lot of workshops, which are threshed everything, from avant-garde to the hierarchy. If one person can do something, then another can repeat it. Sometimes, I look - Bogolyubov, well, one hundred per cent, very similar. But then again - I understand that the forgery. But virtuoso! On the other hand, well - preserved tradition, the school, and the artist makes money. Painters some twelve thousand in the Union of Artists. How do they survive?
Fakes as a way to survive in St. Petersburg choose many talented artists - the actual art is not claimed, and the academic school is as strong as before: the students are taught to copy the swab in a swab, and museums are always before my eyes upscale models.
Kustodiyev-2
Artist Nikanorova recommended to me as the author of exquisite boards Kustodiev "Ice skating". Nikanorov - Kustodiyev was good, very nice man. Talk to him pleasantly. I examine the very same plate: chubby girls, sleigh with bells, typical winter landscape with churches in the background.
- Well, it problemka out - quietly says Nikanorov, - painting something good, and board failed. It is from an old Bible of the XIX century, but with one side cut is not as it should. Transform is no longer possible - replica will. The expert said that if it had not been cut, he would have believed it.
Nikanorov wrote not only Kustodiev - all that is asked: Polenova, Nesterova, Vermeer, Van Dyck. Suitable to this as learning:
- Write or Vasnetsov, Shishkin himself from this to develop. And restoration of the need to know, and all the technology. It's the foundation of painting. Previously, students begin with the grinding of paints, dried, added varnish, oil. Small children are both started, and then grew up in Leonardo and Cimabue.
He reminds the artist of the XV century, working in a measured and nesuetlivo. On the process sostarivaniya tells in detail and with pleasure, as a diligent housewife.
- There are different ways: in the stain to holstik darkened, or dye added. On the balcony you can throw in a basin to leave for a month under the cloth. Kind of just such a beautiful becomes natural. Whitewash is old need to take - XVII century hard to get, but the beginning of the XIX and XX - it is simple: grind the old lead, you add pigments ...
Most Nikanorov likes of Rubens, who writes amazing - so that in any museum amiss.
- I lived for six months, they sat and thought: how he thought, why then picked up a paint here - another. While you do not understand, write nichegone able - and I always dreamed that I was Rubens. This avant-garde - what you learn there? I used to do things quite avant-garde - and they are worth more than all the money obtained. Once wrote a couple of hours, cost $ 8000. Such orders, I, of course, love. But the growth of any of them, it's all for the money.
Square wave
- Everyone seems to forge suprematic thing Malevich or some kubofuturisticheskuyu track easier than Savrasov - laughs art Elena Basner, short woman with a quiet voice, insinuating and refined, in the nature of long-lost speech. A former employee of the Russian Museum Basner - the biggest expert on the Russian avant-garde. She says she hears the sound of fraud - in the original it was clean, while the fakes are uneven, cracked, not the same.
- In fact, the simpler the picture, the more difficult to achieve this simplicity. It is inexplicably difficult, and when the counterfeits because "it's easy" - the result beyond outrageous. Wildest forgery - under Pirosmani. It would seem - ineptitude, but it is impossible to repeat, I assure you, the simplicity of it is unattainable. Fake vanguard, however, huge, just improbable number. Fakes flooded the market in waves, after each exhibition. Passed Malevich - immediately avalanche Malevich, Rozanova after the exhibition - a local, small exhibition - an avalanche of false Rozanova. Collectors collect past his eyes, but not current with their eyes, ears, and papers. They do not care, I like the picture or not, they have a paper that is a real Malevich or Polenov, but in actual fact they do not like either of Malevich or Polenov, they generally do not like anybody!
So popular and the annual growth of counterfeiting vanguard completely discredited - dealers with this period of trying not to get involved. But the choice is limited - on Russia's market is valued only Russian goods, and only invested in the Russian artists of the money could triple within a year.
End of History
The history of art antiques market has almost no relationship. The most expensive Russian artist on this day was Ilya Mashkov, whose work went into last year at Sotheby's for $ 3.6 million - in just a year before his still-life sold 20 times cheaper. Fashion for artists from the textbook "Native Speech" - Shishkin with Aivazovsky - departs, because they do not get it.
- Against this background, smart people quietly buying social realism - the dealer said Yegor Baev, gallery owner "ArtEgo. - Socialist realists still possible to buy cheaply, but will soon drive up these prices. The market is practically washed out. I recently got a call from America, please contact the son of a Soviet artist - the ocean went a rumor that he was drinking and sells the work of his father. I contacted - there really turn: the son can be purchased for $ 500-1000, to sell - at least $ 5000. With Russian classics complicated: a man may propose Vasnetsov, and he did not know the original or not. Expert methods of moving forward, and so now so many scandals associated with the discovery of fakes, which had simply not noticed. In the salons mainly sell unknown names, so that's good that they do not need to forge - they are cheap. But the big names in the open sale - for the most part falshak. Works of these artists are known where they are open, published and described, ten times resold. And who needs work, not representing any cultural or aesthetic value? Everyone needs Shishkin.
Director General of antique galleries "Harmony" Mikhail Suslov, are more optimistic:
- In recent series of scandals broke out, and especially not to journalists what to write about - crime bust, pop stars turned over, started for the mysterious quiet of Antiquaries. People read and already afraid of everything. Forgery is not so much as it may seem street. Everything is based on the name and reputation of the antique dealer. For example, I bear the moral and material responsibility for the works of art, which I represent.
Suslov really want to believe, but look at the picture hanging on the sale in "Harmony", I understand that distinguish a fake from the original is impossible in principle - the question really only trust. Subframes, craquelure, colors and types of weaving cloth, as lines of poetry, depend only on the interpretation. Interprets differently.
It is not they
In the dim light of another, less renowned and expensive shops canvases hang tight, in three rows. Here is a small painting by Aivazovsky: storm and dying in waves of boats, 125000 rubles.
- No, it is certainly not Aivazovsky - a bored voice, agrees to the seller. Next - a portrait of dark-haired girl: Serov, 90000 rubles. Young man deftly removes the painting from the wall, shows the opposite direction:
- All old, the signature of old, but, you know ... not Serov. We go out past the no-Borovikovsky, non-Perov, non-Savrasov and not-unknown artist of the Dutch school of the XVII century. We stop at the collection of gems, dusty no-Rembrandt for a hundred and fifty thousand: a cracelures and layers of darkened varnish barely can see a piece of yellow faces.
- Buy, - said wearily antiquary, - and buy. Houses on the wall to hang in your office or, if the firm is not too chic. Still, the name known.
- Buy, - agrees Kornyakov, according to statistics that 95-98%of the work - this is a fake paintings, fake documents, forged signatures and false craquelure. Buy not only because the price of an antique painting grow faster than housing prices. For the collector is important passion search to find the pearl. And it is important to time opportunities, departing forever.
- My friends, - tells Kornyakov finally - now a widow selling Petrov-Vodkin. Dali and a half thousand rubles a deposit, a thousand more were to deliver, but could not, came two days later. The widow is in tears, said: "Sorry, thought you gone, and gave others this thing." And it is - a reality that real humans alive today! They "Bathing the Red Horse" to buy! Five million dollars will not have time to buy!
http://www.bg.ru/article/6051/
06.09.2008, 07:14
Field of dreams ....
Линейный вид
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