Who could have guessed one of the most helpful and instructional guides for this project would be a cunning art forger? While examining one of my favorite art book’s bibliography (the best feature of any book!), the title, The Art Forger’s Handbook jumped off the page. Eric Hebborn wrote about his artistic skills describing ingenious deceptions, and now art experts are using his book as reference material. How clever!
Mr. Hebborn set the experts on their heels in the 1980s when information surfaced revealing his superb skills of bamboozling. Seems he had faked masterpieces by Breughel, Piranesi, Corot, and many others. After these artworks were distributed into art circles, the experts were in turmoil about authentication and attributions of many masterworks. According to the Art Times this book is “An insiders look into the murky art world of greed and chicanery.” I found it full of splendid information about pigments, techniques, dates, historical materials, and details of when and what the masters used.
In January of 1996, Hebborn died under mysterious circumstances. The BBC’s Omnibus produced a television biography documenting his nefarious life and shenanigans, but my in-depth search failed to find a copy. I’m sure it would be a delightfully naughty story. My library research contact told me he would keep searching.
Coming in March 2011
Lessons from the Pharaoh’s Tomb, Part ll, Galerie Gabrie, Pasadena