Inventing_the_.22perfect_forgery.22 Han_van_Meegeren

it took van meegeren 6 years work out techniques, pleased work on both artistic , deceptive levels. 2 of these trial paintings vermeers : lady reading music, after vermeer’s woman in blue reading letter @ rijksmuseum in amsterdam; , lady playing music, after vermeer’s woman lute near window hanging in metropolitan museum of art in new york city. van meegeren did not sell these paintings; both @ rijksmuseum.

following journey 1936 summer olympics in berlin, van meegeren painted supper @ emmaus using ultramarine blues , yellows preferred johannes vermeer , other dutch golden age painters. experts assumed vermeer had studied in italy, van meegeren used supper @ emmaus michelangelo merisi da caravaggio located @ italy’s pinacoteca di brera model. had wanted walk in steps of masters, , felt forgery fine work in own right. gave friend, attorney c. a. boon, telling him genuine vermeer, , asked him show dr. abraham bredius in monaco. bredius examined forgery in september 1937 , accepted genuine vermeer , praised highly.

the painting purchased rembrandt society fl.520.000 (€235.000 or €4.640.000 today), aid of wealthy shipowner willem van der vorm, , donated museum boijmans van beuningen in rotterdam. in 1938, piece highlighted in special exhibition @ rotterdam museum, along 450 dutch masterpieces dating 1400–1800. a. feulner wrote in magazine [the] history of art , in rather isolated area in vermeer picture hung, quiet in chapel. feeling of consecration overflows on visitors, although picture has no ties ritual or church.

painting last supper han van meegeren on 11th art , antiques fair in rotterdam august 31, 1984. - in summer of 1938, van meegeren moved nice. 1939 painted last supper in style of vermeer.

in summer of 1938, van meegeren moved nice, using proceeds sale of supper @ emmaus buy 12-bedroom estate @ les arènes de cimiez. on walls of estate hung several genuine old masters. 2 of better forgeries made here, interior cardplayers , interior drinkers, both displaying signature of pieter de hooch. during time in nice, painted last supper in style of vermeer.

he returned netherlands in september 1939 second world war threatened. remained @ hotel in amsterdam several months , moved village of laren in 1940. throughout 1941, van meegeren issued designs, published in 1942 large , luxurious book entitled han van meegeren: teekeningen (drawings nr i). created several forgeries during time, including head of christ, last supper ii, blessing of jacob, adulteress, , washing of feet—all in manner of vermeer. on 18 december 1943, divorced wife, formality; couple remained together, large share of capital transferred accounts safeguard against uncertainties of war.

in december 1943, van meegerens moved amsterdam took residence in exclusive keizersgracht 321. forgeries had earned him between 5.5 , 7.5 million guilders (or $25–30 million today). used money purchase large amount of real estate, jewellery, , works of art, , further luxurious lifestyle. in 1946 interview, told marie louise doudart de la grée owned 52 houses , 15 country houses around laren, among them grachtenhuizen, beautiful mansions along famous amsterdam canals.