The Art of the Forgery

The Orlando Museum of Art’s director believed the works were authentic—that Basquiat painted them. Yet, following a years-long investigation, the FBI gathered enough evidence to determine that the works were fake, not by Basquiat.

The paintings were allegedly completed in 1982. But several factors in the works’ provenance—or history—did not make sense. For example, one of the paintings was completed on a FedEx cardboard box. Printed on the box is the phrase “Align top of FedEx Shipping Label here,” shown above. The text is in a typeface the shipping company did not begin using until 1994, more than five years after Basquiat died. So the artist couldn’t have made the painting, could he?

The director of the Orlando Museum of Art thought the paintings were authentic works created by Basquiat. But the FBI found enough evidence to prove that they were not created by Basquiat—they were fakes.

The paintings were supposedly completed in 1982—but several clues showed that they weren’t. For example, one of the paintings was made on a FedEx cardboard box. The phrase “Align top of FedEx Shipping Label here” is printed on the box, see above. The font wasn’t used by FedEx until 1994—more than five years after Basquiat died. So the artist couldn’t have made the painting, could he?

In another high profile case, Knoedler & Co., one of New York’s most prestigious art galleries, bought and sold close to 40 fake paintings. By 2011, the gallery had made more than $80 million.

Glafira Rosales, a Long Island-based art dealer, bought the paintings for less than $9,000 each from a forger named Pei-Shen Qian. A forger produces artwork in the style of a more famous artist with the intention to deceive. Rosales sold the paintings to Knoedler & Co., which then sold the paintings to art collectors.

One buyer, Domenico De Sole, purchased a forged Mark Rothko painting for $8.3 million. When he learned it was a forgery, he sued Knoedler & Co. for $25 million. The trial, as depicted in the courtroom sketch, above, was widely publicized. It raised questions about how galleries and auction houses determine the authenticity of the artworks they sell.

Another well-known case involved one of New York’s oldest art galleries, Knoedler & Co. The gallery bought and sold close to 40 fake paintings. By 2011, it had made more than $80 million selling them.

The gallery purchased the paintings from art dealer Glafira Rosales, then sold them to collectors. Rosales bought the fakes for less than $9,000 each from a forger named Pei-Shen Qian. Forgers trick buyers by making artworks that look like they're by famous artists.

One buyer, Domenico De Sole, purchased a forged Mark Rothko painting for $8.3 million. He sued Knoedler & Co. for $25 million when he learned it was a fake. This trial raised questions about how galleries determine the authenticity of art.

John Myatt made a career selling copies—similar or identical versions—of well-known artworks. Initially, the British artist was explicit about the fact that the paintings were fakes. But he was so talented that a famous auction house valued one of his paintings at £25,000, mistaking it for an authentic work. Myatt then turned from making copies to making forgeries—and knowingly tricking buyers. Between 1986 and 1994, Myatt forged more than 200 works, fooling collectors and art institutions. Eventually, he was caught and sentenced to a year in prison.

Today Myatt still sells paintings imitating the work of notable artists, including Vincent van Gogh, for thousands of dollars. But now Myatt refers to them as “genuine fakes.” Compare Van Gogh’s authentic 1889 self-portrait, above left, with the “genuine fake” copy by Myatt, above right. Is it ethical for Myatt to profit from these copies as long as he’s honest about the authenticity of his work?

British artist John Myatt made a career selling copies of well-known artworks. Myatt was honest that these were copies. But that changed after a famous auction house valued one of his copies at £25,000. Experts thought it was authentic. Then Myatt started tricking buyers. Between 1986 and 1994, Myatt forged more than 200 works. He was caught and sentenced to a year in prison.

Today Myatt still sells copies of work by famous artists, like Vincent van Gogh. But now he’s honest—he refers to them as “genuine fakes.” Compare Van Gogh’s self-portrait, above left, with Myatt’s “genuine fake,” above right. Is it right for Myatt to make money by selling copies of other artists' work?