The Art of the Con: The Most Notorious Fakes, Frauds, and Forgeries in the Art World

by Anthony M. Amore

  39.Eastaugh and Nadolny, “Analytical Results of a Group Of Beltracchi Forgeries,” 72.

  40.Nicholas Eastaugh, “Learning from Beltracchi,” in Dev Fall Beltracchi und die Folgen, ed. Henry Keazor and Tina Ocal (Berlin: DeGruyter, 2014), 82.

  41.Nicholas Eastaugh, e-mail interview, July 7, 2014.

  42.Jilleen Nadolny, e-mail interview, July 7, 2014.

  43.Nicolai Hartvig, “Masterminds of Massive Forgery Ring That Snookered Steve Martin Receive Light Sentences after Charming Court and Public,” October 28, 2011, retrieved June 29, 2014, Blouin Artinfo, http://www.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/482178/masterminds-of-massive-forgery-ring-that-snookered-steve.

  44.Bojan Pancevski, “Artful Dodger Duped the Experts,” The Australian, February 19, 2014, retrieved February 2, 2015, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/artful-dodger-duped-the-experts/story-fnb64oi6-1226830839995?nk=fde5e90807280cd2f0486259711885da.

  45.Hartvig, “Masterminds of Massive Forgery Ring that Snookered Steve Martin.”

  46.Michael Sontheimer, “A Cheerful Prisoner: Art Forger All Smiles after Guilty Plea Seals Deal,” Spiegel Online International, October 27, 2011, retrieved June 29, 2014, http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/a-cheerful-prisoner-art-forger-all-smiles-after-guilty-plea-seals-deal-a-794454.html.

  47.Bob Simon, “The Con Artist,” 60 Minutes (CBS), original air date February 23, 2014, CBS News Transcripts (LexisNexis.com).

  48.Simon, “Con Artist.”

  49.Nicholas Eastaugh and Jilleen Nadolny, via an e-mailed interview, July 7, 2014.

  50.Jilleen Nadolny, e-mail interview, October 6, 2014.

  51.Pancevski, “Artful Dodger Duped the Experts.”

  52.Simon, “Con Artist.”

  53.O’Brien, “Wolfgang Beltracchi: Portrait of the Artist as a Con Man.”

  54.Ibid.

  55.Eastaugh and Nadolny, “The Analytical Results of a Group of Beltracchi Forgeries,” 68.

  56.Nadolny, e-mail interview, July 7, 2014.

  Chapter 2: The Broker

  1.Patricia Cohen, “A Gallery That Helped Create the American Art World Closes Shop after 165 Years,” New York Times, November 30, 2011, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/01/arts/design/knoedler-art-gallery-in-nyc-closes-after-165-years.html?_r=0.

  2.Faustino Quintanilla, “Jaime Andrade: A Life for Art,” retrieved July 2, 2014, http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/artgallery/exhibitDetail.asp?exhibitID=48.

  3.Ibid.

  4.“David Herbert profile,” from Civil Complaint: Domenico De Sole and Eleanore De Sole v. Knoedler Gallery, LLC D/B/A Knoedler & Company, and Ann Freedman, 12 CIV 2313, US District Court (S.D.N.Y. March 28, 2012).

  5.Quintanilla, “Jaime Andrade.”

  6.Civil Complaint: Frank Fertitta III and Evelyn Maclean v. Knoedler Gallery, LLC et al., 14 CV 2259, US District Court (S.D.N.Y. April 1, 2014).

  7.Dune Lawrence and Wenxin Fan, “The Other Side of an $80 Million Art Fraud: A Master Forger Speaks,” Bloomberg News, December 19, 2013, retrieved July 1, 2014, http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-12-19/the-other-side-of-an-80-million-art-fraud-a-master-forger-speaks.

  8.Ibid.

  9.Sarah Maslin Nir, Patricia Cohen, and William K. Rashbaum, “Struggling Immigrant Artist Tied to $80 Million New York Fraud,” New York Times, August 16, 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/17/nyregion/struggling-immigrant-artist-tied-to-80-million-new-york-fraud.html?pagewanted=all.

  10.Sealed Indictment: United States v. Jose Carlo Bergantinos, Jesus Angel Bergantinos, and Pei Shen Qian, 14 CRIM 217 (S.D.N.Y. March 31, 2014).

  11.Ibid.

  12.Michael Shnayerson, “A Question of Provenance,” Vanity Fair, May 2012, retrieved July 4, 2014, http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2012/05/knoedler-gallery-forgery-scandal-investigation.

  13.Patricia Cohen, “Artist’s Family Says Gallery Ignored Warning of Fakes,” New York Times, May 6, 2012, retrieved July 4, 2014, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/07/arts/design/knoedler-now-in-dispute-over-diebenkorn-drawings.html?pagewanted=all; Civil Complaint: Domenico De Sole and Eleanore De Sole v. Knoedler Gallery et al., 12 CIV 2313.

  14.Civil Complaint: De Sole and De Sole.

  15.Amended Civil Complaint and Demand for Jury Trial: John D. Howard v. Ann Freedman et al., 12 CV 5263, US District Court (S.D.N.Y. October 21, 2013).

  16.Declaration of Ann Freedman: De Sole and De Sole.

  17.Civil Complaint: De Sole and De Sole.

  18.Ibid.

  19.Museum of Modern Art, s.v. “About This Artist: Robert Motherwell,” Museum of Modern Art website (source: Oxford University Press), 2009, retrieved July 5, 2014, http://www.moma.org/collection/artist.php?artist_id=4126.

  20.Letter from Morgan Spangle to Julian Weissman, February 15, 2007; Complaint: Killala Fine Art Limited v. Julian Weissman et al. 11 CIV 0702, US District Court (S.D.N.Y. February 1, 2011).

  21.James Panero, “Behind the Veil: Questions about Art Authentication,” Wall Street Journal, March 23, 2011, retrieved July 5, 2014, http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748704608504576208622894968298.

  22.Laura Gilbert, “‘Document Dump’ Reveals New Details in Knoedler Case,” Art Newspaper, October 8, 2014, retrieved October 9, 2014, http://www.theartnewspaper.com/articles/Document-dump-reveals-new-details-in-Knoedler-case/35881.

  23.Civil Complaint: De Sole and De Sole.

  24.Ibid.

  25.Ibid.

  26.Shnayerson, “A Question of Provenance.”

  27.Letter from Jack Flam to Julian Weissman, February 17, 2009; Complaint: Killala Fine Art Limited v. Julian Weissman et al. 11 CIV 0702, US District Court (S.D.N.Y. February 1, 2011).

  28.Shnayerson, “A Question of Provenance.”

  29.Civil Complaint: Lagrange v. Knoedler, Civil Complaint: Pierre Lagrange et al. v. Knoedler Gallery, LLC, et al. 11 CIV 8757, US District Court (S.D.N.Y, December 1, 2011).

  30.First Amended Complaint: Pierre Lagrange et al. v. Knoedler Gallery et al., January 17, 2012.

  31.Civil Complaint: Lagrange v. Knoedler, 11 CIV 8757, (S.D.N.Y. December 1, 2011).

  32.Ibid.

  33.Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release, Killala Fine Art Limited v. Julian Weissman, et al.11 CIV 0702, U.S. District Court (S.D.N.Y October 6, 2011).

  34.Cohen, “A Gallery That Helped Create the American Art World Closes Shop after 165 Years.”

  35.Ibid.

  36.Rosenberg v. Seattle Art Museum, 42 F. Supp. 2d 1029 (W.D. Wash, March 29, 1999), http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp2/42/1029/2501685/, retrieved July 9, 2014.

  37.Judith H. Dobrzynski, “Seattle Museum Is Sued for a Looted Matisse,” New York Times, August 4, 1998, retrieved July 9, 2014, http://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/04/arts/seattle-museum-is-sued-for-a-looted-matisse.html.

  38.Sheila Farr, “Seattle Gets Pick of Paintings after Matisse Loss,” Seattle Times, October 13, 2000, retrieved July 9, 2014, http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20001013&slug=4047641.

  39.Adam Gorlick, “Oil Painting Returned to Italy,” Bangor Daily News, June 25, 2001, B4.

  40.James Martin, Orion Analytical LLC, Orion Project No. 1745. Domenico De Sole et al. v. Knoedler Gallery et al. 12 CIV 2313, U.S. District Court (S.D.N.Y. March 28, 2012).

  41.Ibid.

  42.Sealed Indictment: Bergantinos.

  43.Federal Bureau of Investigation Press Release, “Art Dealer Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to $80 Million Fake Art Scam, Money Laundering, and Tax Charges,” September 16, 2013, http://www.fbi.gov/newyork/press-releases/2013/art-dealer-pleads-guilty-in-manhattan-federal-court-to-80-million-fake-art-scam-money-laundering-and-tax-charges.

 
44.Federal Bureau of Investigation Press Release, “Three Defendants Charged in Manhattan Federal Court in Connection With $33 Million Art Fraud Scheme,” April 21, 2014, http://www.fbi.gov/newyork/press-releases/2014/three-defendants-charged-in-manhattan-federal-court-in-connection-with-33-million-art-fraud-scheme.

  45.Lawrence and Fan, “Other Side of an $80 Million Art Fraud.”

  46.Jon Swaine, “Artist at Centre of Multimillion Dollar Forgery Scandal Turns Up in China,” Guardian, April 22, 2014, retrieved October 13, 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/apr/22/forged-art-scandal-new-york-artist-china-spain.

  47.Lawrence and Fan, “Other Side of an $80 Million Art Fraud.”

  48.Patricia Cohen, “Note to Forgers: Don’t Forget the Spell Check,” New York Times, June 11, 2014, retrieved July 20, 2014, http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/06/12/arts/design/note-to-forgers-dont-forget-the-spell-check.html?_r=0.

  49.Declaration of Ann Freedman: De Sole and De Sole.

  50.Kate Lucas, “Former Knoedler President Ann Freedman Sues New York Dealer over Comments in Article on Knoedler Scandal,” Art Law (blog), Grossman LLP, September 17, 2013, retrieved August 31, 2014, http://grossmanllp.com/art-law-blog/2013/09/former-knoedler-president-ann-freedman-sues-new-york-dealer-over-comments-in-article-on-knoedler-scandal/.

  51.Ibid.

  52.Ann Freedman v. Marco Grassi, Supreme Court of the State of New York, County Suffolk, Complaint. September 11, 2013. http://www.scribd.com/doc/167631606/Freedman-Defamation-Complaint; Retrieved August 31, 2014.

  53.Gilbert, “‘Document Dump.’” N.B. The Art Newspaper reported that the former agent was “retained by either Freedman or Knoedler.”

  54.As of the date of publication, civil cases filed by and against Ann Freedman and the Knoedler Gallery related to the Rosales matter were still pending.

  Chapter 3: The Art Ponzi Scheme

  1.James Panero, “An Old Master in Ruins,” New York Magazine, March 31, 2008, http://nymag.com/news/features/45324/.

  2.Ibid.

  3.Will Bennett, “Picture Sold for £75,000 ‘Is Caravaggio Worth Millions,’” Telegraph, July 14, 2004, retrieved August 7, 2014, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1466943/Picture-sold-for-75000-is-Caravaggio-worth-millions.html.

  4.Ibid.

  5.“‘Caravaggio’ Painting Sparks a Row,” BBC News, July 14, 2004, retrieved August 6, 2014, http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/entertainment/3894605.stm.

  6.Martin Gayford, “How Caravaggio Saw in the Dark,” Telegraph, July 13, 2010, retrieved August 7, 2014, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/art-features/7887249/How-Caravaggio-saw-in-the-dark.html.

  7.Mina Gregori, The Age of Caravaggio (New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1985), 18.

  8.“Caravaggio Painting Found in an Attic Now Fully Restored and Worth £70m,” Mail Online (Daily Mail), October 18, 2006, retrieved August 7, 2014, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-411248/Caravaggio-painting-attic-fully-restored-worth-70m.html.

  9.Sarah Portlock, “Caravaggio to the Rescue?” New York Sun, October 16, 2007, retrieved August 7, 2014, http://www.nysun.com/arts/caravaggio-to-the-rescue/64600/.

  10.“The Art of the Steal,” American Greed, CNBC, season 5, episode 11, original airdate April 6, 2011.

  11.Ibid.

  12.Ibid.

  13.Panero, “An Old Master in Ruins.”

  14.John McEnroe, You Cannot Be Serious (New York: Berkley, 2002), Kindle edition.

  15.Panero, “An Old Master in Ruins.”

  16.Dan Duray, “Raging Bulls of the Renaissance Scam: Larry Salander’s Dupes Clash in Court,” New York Observer, March 23, 2011, retrieved August 6, 2014, http://observer.com/2011/03/raging-bulls-of-the-renaissance-scam-larry-salanders-dupes-clash-in-court/.

  17.Eileen Kinsell, “Untangling the Salander Mess,” ARTnews, July 1, 2010, retrieved August 6, 2014, http://www.artnews.com/2010/07/01/untangling-the-salander-mess/; Melissa Grace and Tracy Connor, “Tennis Great John McEnroe Helps Nab Art Dealer Lawrence Salander, Who Was Indicted For Fraud,” New York Daily News, March 26, 2009, retrieved August 10, 2014, http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/tennis-great-john-mcenroe-helps-nab-art-dealer-lawrence-salander-indicted-fraud-article-1.370014.

  18.“Art of the Steal,” American Greed.

  19.Caroline Kinneberg, “Profile: Salander–O’Reilly Galleries,” New York Magazine, retrieved August 9, 2014, http://nymag.com/listings/attraction/Salander-O-Reilly/.

  20.Ginger Adams Otis, “His Exhibit of Goyas, Pollocks, and ‘Ponzis,’” New York Post, October 28, 2007, 6.

  21.Panero, “An Old Master in Ruins.”

  22.Auction Results, “Important American Paintings, Drawing and Sculpture,” Sale 2058, Lot 28, December 4, 2008, retrieved August 9, 2014, http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/drawings-watercolors/stuart-davis-egg-beater-5154189-details.aspx.

  23.“Biography: Stuart Davis,” adapted from Eye, GHL; American Art at the Phillips Collection; retrieved August 9, 2014, http://www.phillipscollection.org/research/american_art/bios/davis_s-bio.htm.

  24.The facts surrounding Salander’s dealings with the collection of Stuart Davis come from the complaint filed by the plaintiff in Earl Davis v. Salander-O’Reilly Galleries LLC et al., 07 CV 4165 (S.D.N.Y. May 29, 2007).

  25.Earl Davis v. Salander-O’Reilly Galleries LLC et al., 07 CV 4165 (S.D.N.Y. May 29, 2007).

  26.Helen O’Neill, “Former Gallery Owner Larry Salander: The Art World’s Bernie Madoff, and His Deceptions,” artdaily.org, retrieved August 10, 2014, http://artdaily.com/news/42014/Former-Gallery-Owner-Lawrence-Salander–The-Art-World-s-Bernie-Madoff–and-His-Deceptions-#.U-fGP2Md_wI.

  27.O’Neill, “Art World’s Bernie Madoff”; “Art of the Steal,” American Greed.

  28.Philip Boroff, “Deniro Testifies against Dealer Accused of Stealing Dad’s Art,” Bloomberg, March 19, 2011, retrieved August 10, 2014, http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-04/robert-de-niro-to-testify-as-ex-salander-employee-starts-trial-for-fraud.html.

  29.Ibid.

  30.Philip Boroff, “Judge Threatens to Put Convicted Dealer Leigh Morse Behind Bars Again,” Artnet News, December 12, 2014, http://news.artnet.com/market/judge-threatens-to-put-convicted-dealer-leigh-morse-behind-bars-again-196276, retrieved December 31, 2014.

  31.Grace and Connor, “Tennis Great John McEnroe Helps Nab Art Dealer Lawrence Salander.”

  32.Panero, “An Old Master in Ruins.”

  33.District Attorney-New York County News Release re: Lawrence B. Salander, District Attorney—New York County, March 26, 2009, retrieved August 6, 2014, http://davideubank.wordpress.com/2009/03/27/big-art-big-theft-the-lawrence-b-salander-indictment/.

  34.E-mail from Larry Salander to Maurice Katz, June 14, 2007; MSNBC’s American Greed website, retrieved August 10, 2014, http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/CNBC/Sections/CNBC_TV/CNBC_US/Shows/_Documentaries_Specials/American_Greed/Season_05/Episode_47/Cover/AGS5_E47C1_Salander_Katz_email.pdf.

  35.Panero, “An Old Master in Ruins.”

  36.Otis, “His Exhibit of Goyas, Pollocks, and Ponzis,” 6.

  37.Melissa Grace and Corky Siemaszko, “Art Scammer Gets 6 Yrs. in Slammer,” New York Daily News, August 4, 2010, 12.

  38.Philip Boroff and Karen Freifeld, “Distraught Salander, Sentenced to Up to 18 Years, Says Sorry,” Bloomberg, August 4, 2010, retrieved August 10, 2014, http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-03/art-dealer-salander-gets-up-to-18-years-for-defrauding-investors-clients.html.

  39.Thomas Zambito, “Dead Man Walking? Bernie Madoff to Be Sentenced Monday,” New York Daily News, June 29, 2009, retrieved August 10, 2014, http://www.nydailynews.com/news/money/dead-man-walking-bernie-madoff-sentenced-monday-article-1.373462.

  40.Helen O’Neill, “V
ictims of Art Fraud Describe Personal, Financial Toll,” Washington Post, October 24, 2010, E04.

  Chapter 4: The Trusting Artist

  1.“Remarks by the President Honoring the Recipients of the 2010 Medal of Freedom,” February 15, 2011, White House, Office of the Press Secretary, retrieved July 12, 2014, http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/02/15/remarks-president-honoring-recipients-2010-medal-freedom.

  2.Jasper Johns, Flag gallery label text, Museum of Modern Art, retrieved July 12, 2014, http://www.moma.org/collection/object.php?object_id=78805.

  3.Museum of Modern Art, MoMA Highlights rev. ed. (New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1999), 232.

  4.Anne Umland, Jasper Johns’s Flag, audio program excerpt, MoMA: Collection, 2008, 420, retrieved July 12, 2014, http://www.moma.org/collection/object.php?object_id=78805.

  5.Nina Siegal, “Private View,” Artnet, retrieved July 12, 2014, http://www.artnet.com/Magazine/features/siegel/siegal7-30-04.asp.

  6.Alanna Martinez, “Sotheby’s to Sell $20M Jasper Johns ‘Flag’ at Fall Contemporary Art Auction,” New York Observer, September 23, 2014, retrieved October 10, 2014, http://observer.com/2014/09/sothebys-to-sell-jasper-johns-flag-at-fall-contemporary-art-auction/.

  7.Ibid.

  8.Siegal, “Private View.”

  9.The story of the crimes against Johns related to Flag, Ramnarine, and other foundries, comes in large measure from his sworn courtroom testimony provided during direct examination in United States v. Brian Ramnarine, S1 12 CR 826 (JGK) (S.D.N.Y. January 23, 2014).

  10.Vanessa Hoheb biography, “Bio,” Hands Across Time, n.d., retrieved July 12, 2014, http://www.handsacrosstime.com/bio/.

  11.Testimony of Jasper Johns: Ramnarine.

  12.The spelling of the collector’s name appears as Sewdutt Harpul in federal court transcripts. However, the Wall Street Journal has reported that this individual’s true name is Sendupt Harpaul.

  13.Testimony of Sarah Taggart: Ramnarine.

  14.Brendan O’Connor, “Who’s Looking Out For Jasper Johns?” The Awl, April 10, 2014, retrieved October 13, 2014, http://www.theawl.com/2014/04/whos-looking-out-for-jasper-johns.