ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF ART FORGERY IS PART
OF
“FABULOUS
FAKES” ART SHOW IN NEW ROCHELLE
In addition to some two
dozen original works of art created in the styles of the Masters, the
exhibition: Fabulous Fakes also includes over a hundred images with
narrative material chronicling the History of Art Forgery through the ages.
“Prior to the 19th Century, the copying of work by other
artists was considered an acceptable form of homage to the Masters, and
considered an important part of an artist’s training,” notes Joe L. Dolice, Exhibition
Director for the NRCA, who created this part of the exhibit. “It was only
when art became a commercial enterprise, and the demand for fine art far
exceeded the supply, that copying became forgery”, he adds.
In addition to examples of
ancient and Renaissance art faked by any number of unknown art forgers
throughout the ages, a section of the exhibition entitled Rogue’s Gallery of
Art Forgers illustrates the criminal and often amusing careers of famous
forgers, mostly of the 20th Century. They include characters such as
Lothar Malskat, who forged medieval frescoes in two European cathedrals and the
famous forger of antiquarian sculpture, Alceo Dossena. The career of Han Van
Meegeren, whose fake Vermeers were hailed by worldwide experts for years as the
best of this Master’s work is noted, and other contemporary fakers who
concentrated on the Impressionists and later: Elmyr de Hory, David Stein and
John Drewe are all scrutinized in this part of the show.
Extracts from art forger Eric Hebborn’s : Art Forger’s Handbook illustrates actual examples of how forgers works their craft; and many materials actually used in making art forgeries are on display. Techniques in forgery detection are part of the show, as are illustrated notes on modern replication techniques in the creation of commercial art replicas and reproductions. The exhibition will run from October 19 through November 30, 2001; and will be available to travel after November.
SALE OF REPLICA ANTIQUARIAN PRINTS
TO BENEFIT NRCA AND NEW ROCHELLE LIBRARY
The public is invited to a special
sale of art prints, mostly replicas of antiquarian art from the 15th through
the 19th centuries, that will be held in conjunction with the New Rochelle
Council on The Arts exhibition “Fabulous Fakes” at the New Rochelle Library on
October 19th through November 30th. Proceeds from the sale of these prints,
which are being offered to the public at wholesale trade prices during the
library exhibition, will benefit the New Rochelle Council on The Arts and the
New Rochelle Public Library.
The
sale will include dozens of replicas of etchings by Rembrandt and Dürer;
landscapes, still life and figurative works from the eighteenth and nineteenth
centuries; reproductions of ancient Egyptian, Islamic and Oriental art as well
as maps, drawings, woodcuts and botanicals. Many art prints of works by
Impressionists will be available as well as a number of Modern masters.
This special print sale is
being held during the “Fabulous Fakes” show, which includes the first week in
November, established as “Print Week” by the International Fine Print Dealer’s
Association and has been officially proclaimed as such by New York City mayor
Rudy Giuliani.
For more information on
the “Fabulous Fakes” exhibition and this special sale, the public can contact
the library at 914-632-7878 or visit the library’s website at www.nrpl.org.
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PARTICIPATING ARTISTS
All of the artists contributing work to the “Fabulous
Fakes” exhibition being presented by The New Rochelle Council on The Arts in
October/November 2001 are accomplished professional artists in their own right,
who have won many awards and whose work are in a number of museums and
important collections. Some of these artists are:
Linda Adato received her BA and MA at UCLA and studied at the
Hornsey College of Art in England. Her work has been shown at the National
Academy of Design, the New York Historical Society and the DeCordova Museum in
Lincoln MA; and The
Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco and the Cor
awards include the Gold Medal of Honor, Audubon Artists 58th Annual Exhibit,
2000; and awards from The National Academy of Design in New York.
Ruth Ellen Fleming graduated from The New York School of Interior Design
with an BFA and was a practicing interior designer for
20 years. She studied de
Don Geyra received his BA from Colgate University where he studied under Sidney
Tillim and James Lovelace; and got his MFA in Painting at Indiana University
studying under James MacGarrett and Robert Barnes. He has exhibited at the
Petyrenko Gallery in New York City, at the Rye Arts Center and at the Lumen
Winter Gallery in New Rochelle. His works are in the collection of the
Rockefeller Foundation.
Don Keene received his BFA in Illustration at the Art Center
College of Design, Pasadena CA; and his Master’s
Degree in Studio Art at The College of New Rochelle. He has exhibited his work
at the Walter Wickiser and Synchronicity galleries in New York; and at the Piermont Flywheel Gallery in Pierpont, NY. His
works are in the collections of Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Christopher of NY and Mr.
& Mrs. James Kiberd of Dobbs Ferry, NY, among others.
Ken Kraus studied and received his Bachelor’s degree in
Architecture at Pratt Institute, and studied at Silvermine Guild and at the
Creative Art Center in New Haven, CT. He has exhibited his work at the Art
Place in Fairfield, CT; and at the Creative Art Center in New Haven, CT; and at
Westport Art Exhibits.
Constance Livingston studied at the Tyler School of Art, Tempe University
and has exhibited in many museum group exhibitions including the State Museum
of Albany, New York University’s Grey Gallery, The Hudson River Museum, Katonah
Museum and others. She has had one-artist exhibitions in over nine locations in
Westchester and Connecticut; and in over a hundred
other exhibitions nationally. She is also the recipient of over fifty prizes
for her work as a professional artist.
Belle Manes received her BFA at Cooper Union after attending the
Music and Art High School in New York. She has exhibited her work at the
Brooklyn Museum, The Larry Aldrich Museum, The
Philadelphia Museum of Art and at The Silvermine Guild. Her work is in the
collections of numerous
Richard Meyer received his BA in Theatre Design from the
University of Bridgeport and has had exhibitions with New Rochelle’s East Coast
Arts, and with the Starving Artists Gallery in New York City. He won the
Brio-Bronx Council on the Arts Award for Songwriting in 1999, and has been an
ASCAP performance artist since 1987.
Bill Murphy received his BFA from the Philadelphia
Museum School of Art and has also studied at Mexico City College School of Fine
Art. He has exhibited his work at Cline Gallery and St. John’s College in Santa
Fe, NM; and at St. Peter’s Church in New York City. He
has more than three dozen works in private collections and is recipient of an
Academy Award for his performance in “Important on the Job” and an Emmy Award
for his performance in “Temper Tantrum On A Bad Day”.
Tony Parisi received his Associate Degree at the NY
State Institute if Applied Arts and Sciences and studied at SVA, the New School and at the Art
Student’s League in New York. He has exhibited at The Joan Whalen Gallery and
Benton Bowles Galleries in New York and at Objects and Images Gallery in
Bronxville. One-artist shows include at Donnell Gallery in New York and others
and he has won first prizes at the Beaux Arts and with the New Rochelle Art
Association.
Peri Schwartz received her BFA at Boston University and
her MFA at Queens College, New York. She has exhibited at Alan Stone Gallery in
New York and with the 48th Annual Art of The Northeast at Silvermine and at The
Boston Public Library. Her work is in the collections of The British Museum and
The Library of Congress and she has won The Merit Award in International Juried
Show and the Grumbacher Award at Silvermine.
Arle
Sklar-Weinstein received
her BS and MA at New York University under Professor Hale Woodruff and studied
advanced printmaking at Columbia University. She has exhibited her work at The
Hudson River Museum, at Katonah Gallery and at West Broadway Gallery in New
York City. Her work is in the collections of The Hudson River Museum, The San
Diego Museum and The Pepsico Collection in Purchase NY. She is recipient of a
purchase award at the Albright-Knox Galleries and a study scholarship from the
MOMA in NY.
Mary Trevor received her BS and MS at Queens College,
NY; and studied printmaking with Roberta Bermelin and David Finkbeiner. Her
work has been exhibted in the US House of Representatives in a one-artist show; and at the John Szoke Gallery and at The Pratt Graphics
Center in New York City. Her works are in the collections of The Smithsonian
Institution, The Library of Congress Print Collection, The NY Public Library
Print Collection and The Museum of the City of New York. Among her awards are
the International Graphic Arts Foundation Purchase Award and The John Judkyn
Memorial Purchase Award.
Ian Zdatny received his Art Education Certification
and BFA at Pratt in New York and studied at the Studio Forum of Stage Design
under Lester Polikoff and at the Art Student’s League. He is a member of United
Scenic Artists Local 829. His works have been exhibited at The Brooklyn Museum,
The Rotunda Gallery in Brooklyn, in the curated exhibit “Corners” and at The
Park Slope Artists’ Council annual exhibits. His feature film work has included
“Stuart Little 2”, “The Cosby Show”, “When I Grow Up” and “Deadline”, and he
has work at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan.
ABOUT THE NEW
ROCHELLE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS
The New Rochelle Council on The Arts has been a main cultural resource for the 70,000 citizens of the city of New Rochelle and many thousands more in Westchester County for over 25 years. Founded in 1975 and chartered by the State of New York, it is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing cultural events, art exhibitions and educational programs of many kinds to the public.
Major past events of the NRCA have
included the publication of a community calendar; and dozens of lecture,
performance, theatrical; educational and other important cultural events. Among
our art exhibitions, of particular note over the years have been:
1981 – A month-long showing of original paintings and other works by Norman
Rockwell, who lived and worked for a number of years in New Rochelle, and
who used his friends and neighbors there as his models. Over thirty original Rockwell
paintings were included in the exhibition, loaned from a number of major New
York City galleries; along with a complete suite of
original Saturday Evening Post covers from the Rockwell Society of
America. A photographic essay on Rockwell’s life accompanied the exhibition
and the show highlighted a full week of celebrations and events in the city
centering on the artist’s life and work.
1982 – An exhibition of original cels and other art from Terrytoons,
which had its home in New Rochelle, was featured in a major exhibition for the
public. Educational and entertainment events about the creation of cartoon
films and features were held for students from the community school systems and
other visitors.
1984 – An historical exhibition spanning three centuries, and in honor of Black
History Month featured reproductions of some 200 photographs of the first Blacks
in New Rochelle. Events such as the involvement of New Rochelle in the
Underground Railroad; the history of the integration of the school system; and other educational and performance programs were
created. Works were obtained from the Schaumberg Library in Harlem and
from other sources.
1984 – What Makes Us Laugh was a month-long exhibition of original
cartoon work from the Museum of Cartoon Art and other sources. It traced
the work of such historic cartoon strips as the Toonerville Trolley which
had its origins in New Rochelle, and the work of Chic Young and Blondie,
Maggie & Jiggs, as well as a great deal of other original
manuscript material, with educational programs and events.
1988 – The NRCA held a major celebration of the work of artist/sculptor Frederic
Remington, who made his home in New Rochelle for a number of years.
Original works by the artist were imported from the Remington Museum in
Ogdensburg, NY; and loaned from a number of other private collections,
including the Rockefeller Foundation in New York City. A photographic
essay on the artist’s life was part of the show, and educational programs
accompanied this exhibition as typical for all NRCA events.
1989 – 1997 Many one-man and group shows of original works by both
world-famous and local artists were held during these years. Included were Perspectives
on Paper (1989) featuring the graphic art of Adato, Arike,
Schwartz and Perlmutter; Art of the Portrait (1993) with photographs
by Vaccaro and watercolors by Parisi; The Photography Show of
original photographs by Roman Vishniac, Arthur Rothstein and Tony
Vaccaro; Women in the Arts, Major Latin American Artists and a dozen
others.
1998 – In celebration of the joining of New York
City’s five boroughs into one great metropolis in 1898, the NRCA assembled a
collection of over 100 etchings, engravings and photographs from private
collections, museums and publications such as Harper’s and Leslie’s magazines
from the 19th century and beyond, and presented these as a chronicle
of New York City’s past 100-year history: Vintage New York. An
illustrated catalog was published, and the show traveled to a number of local
venues in Westchester County and to Montauk, Long Island. It was exhibited at Hofstra
Museum for six months in 1999, and is still available for loan.
2001 – A spring art festival in the newly
created public park completed this year adjacent to the New Rochelle Library
where the exhibitions are held; and to a newly constructed 22-story
business/apartment complex serving commuters to New York City will be sponsored
by the NRCA and will feature local artists and their work. Over thirty artists are expected
to participate.
2001 -- For six weeks from October 19 through
November 30, 2001, the NRCA will present a special exhibition on the subject of
Art Forgery entitled “Fabulous Fakes”. In addition to a pictorial
history of the subject; the Council has commissioned
over 24 artists who will each create an actual original work of art in the
style of a great Master, from Vermeer to Warhol, as
representative of forgery in the arts. Over a hundred images and narrative
material will be presented on the history and methods of art forgery over the
years and other events, including a benefit sale of replica antiquarian and old
master prints will accompany the exhibition. Major media coverage is expected
and audiences in excess of 25,000 people are anticipated.
All the exhibitions detailed above were held in the
gallery/lobby of the architectural award-winning building of the New
Rochelle Library, in its 3500 square feet of modular exhibition space,
recently renovated. Additionally, the NRCA has sponsored dozens of concerts,
theater, dance, film, lecture and other programs at the library’s 200-seat
theater, within the city and county school systems, at New Rochelle City Hall,
and at theaters, concert halls, colleges, and at art centers throughout the
community.
All
activities of the New Rochelle Council on The Arts are open to the public and
are free of charge. Sponsors of these events have included The New York
State Council on the Arts, many private individuals,
The NRCA welcomes inquiries from organizational,
Research
Bibliography for “The History of
Art Forgery” section of
“Fabulous Fakes” exhibition by the New
Rochelle Council on The Arts
The 100+ illustrations and text in “The History of Art Forgery” part of the exhibition
have been compiled mostly from the sources below. Most of these books are
available to members of any library in Westchester County through the
Westchester Library Service. For more information, consult any member of The
New Rochelle Library staff or visit the New Rochelle Library website at
<http://www.nrpl.org>.
Arnau, Frank. The Art of The Faker – 3,000
years of Deception. Boston, Little Brown & Company, 1959.
LCC 61-5317. Mamaroneck.
Catteral, Lee. The Great Dali Art
Fraud and Other Deceptions. Fort Lee, NJ;
Barricade Books, 1992. ISBN 0-942637-63-1.Yonkers.
Clark, Mary Jane. Do You Promise Not To Tell? New York, St. Martin’s Press 1999. ISBN 0-7394-0532-2. Harrison.
David, Carl. Collecting and Care of Fine Art.
New York; Crown Publishers, Inc.,1981. ISBN:
0-517-542870. Scarsdale.
Dutton, Denis, ed. The Forger’s Art – Forgery and the Philosophy of Art.
Berkeley, University of California Press, 1983. LCC: 82-11029 ISBN: 0-520-04341-3. Larchmont.
Feigen, Richard. Tales From The
Art Crypt. New York; Alfred A. Knopf, 2000. ISBN:0-394-57169-X.
Scarsdale.
Fleming, Stuart J. Authenticity in Art - The
Scientific Detection of Forgery. Crane, Russack + Co.,
Inc.; New York 1975. ISBN: 0-85498-029-6: LCC: 75-27303. New Rochelle.
Godley, John. The Master Forger – The Story of Han
Van Meegeren. New York: Wilfred Funk, Inc., 1950. New Rochelle.
Goodrich, David L. Art Fakes in America. New
York; The Viking Press, 1973LCC: 73-4170.
Hebborn, Eric. The Art Forgers
Handbook. Woodstock, New York: the Overlook Press 1997. ISBN:
0-87951-767-0. Yonkers.
Hebborn, Eric. Drawn to Trouble - Confessions of a
Master Forger. New York; Random House, 1991. ISBN:
0-679-42084-3.Yonkers.
Hoving, Thomas. False Impressions
– The Hunt for Big-Time Art Fakes. New York Simon
& Schuster, 1996. ISBN: 0-684-81134-0. Various.
Irving, Clifford. Fake! The Story
of Elmyr DeHory. New York;
McGraw Hill Book Company, 1969. LCC: 72-86087. Scarsdale.
Jeppson, Lawrence. The Fabulous
Frauds – Fascinating Tales of Great Art Forgeries. New York;
Weybridge and Talley, 1970. LCC: 78-99004. Harrison.
Jones, Mark, Ed. Fake? - The Art of Deception.
Catalog of the British Museum exhibition. Los Angeles &
Berkeley; University of California Press, 1990. ISBN 0-520-07086. LCC:
899-52107.
Yonkers.
Kurz, Otto. Fakes – A Handbook for Collectors and
Students. New Haven; Yale University Press 1948. Scarsdale.
Lee, Ruth Webb. Antique Fakes & Reproductions.
Wellesley Hills, MA: Lee Publications 1966. Ossning.
Lessard, Réal. L’Amour du Faux - La Vérite sur L’Affaire Legros. Paris; Hachette, 1988. ISBN: 2-01-014174-1. Larchmont.
Radnoti, Sandor. The Fake –
Forgery and Its Place in Art. Lanham, Maryland;
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 1999. LCC: 98-46565 ISBN:
0-8476-9206-X.
Rosenbaum, Lee. The Complete
Guide to Collecting Art. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1982.
ISBN: 0-394-51347-9. New Rochelle.
Sachs, Samuel, Ed. Fakes, Forgeries and Other
Deceptions - Catalog from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts exhibition July 11
- September 29, 1973. Minneapolis Institute of the Arts, 1973. LCC:
73-86977. Bedford.
Savage, George. Forgeries, Fakes
and Reproductions. London, Barrie & Rockliff, 1963.
Schuller, Sepp. Forgers, Dealers,
Experts – Strange Chapters in The History of Art. New York: G.P.
Putnam’s Sons 1960. LCC 60-13452. Scarsdale.
Stein, Anne-Marie. Three Picassos
Before Breakfast – Memoirs of an Art Forger’s Wife. New York;
Hawthorne Books, Inc., 1973. LCC: 72-7784. Yonkers.
Tietze, Hans. Genuine and False – Copies, Imitations,
Forgeries. New York; Chanticleer Press Inc., 1948.
Waldron, Ann. True or False! – Amazing Art
Forgeries. New York; Hastings House Publishers, 1983. LCC: 82-15722
ISBN: 0-8038-7220-8. New Rochelle.
Watson, Peter. Sotheby’s – The Inside Story.
New York: Random House, 1997. ISBN: 0-679-41403-7.
Wraight, Robert. The Art Game. New York: Simon
& Schuster, 1965, LCC: 66-19249.
Wright, Christopher. The Art of
The Forger. New York; Dodd, Mead & Company, 1984. ISBN
0-396-08668-7. New Rochelle.
Yates, Raymond F. Antique Fakes and Their Detection.
New York; Harper Brothers, 1950. Chappaqua.
Additional research notes, a preview of completed
parts of this part of the exhibition and
copies of images contained in “The History of Art Forgery” are available by calling Joe L. Dolice, NRCA Exhibition Director at 212-529-2025. This part of the exhibition will be available to travel after the show closes at the New Rochelle Library on November 30, 2001.