The_forgeries Han_van_Meegeren

han van meegeren’s mansion primavera in roquebrune-cap-martin. here, in 1936, van meegeren painted forgery supper @ emmaus, later sold $300,000.

in netherlands, han van meegeren had become well-known painter. hertje (1921) , straatzangers (1928) particularly popular. first legitimate copies painted in 1923 – laughing cavalier , happy smoker – both in style of frans hals. 1928, similarity of van meegeren’s paintings of old masters began draw reproach of dutch art critics, more interested in cubist, surrealist, , other movements. said van meegeren’s gift in imitation , talent limited, outside of copying other artists work. 1 critic wrote gifted technician has made sort of composite facsimile of renaissance school, has every virtue except originality. in response these comments, van meegeren published series of aggressive articles in monthly magazine de kemphaan ( game cock ). raged against art community journalist jan ubink between april 1928 , march 1930, , lost sympathy critics in process.

van meegeren felt genius had been misjudged, , set out prove art critics not copy style of dutch masters in paintings, produce work of art magnificent rival works of master painters. moved jo south of france , began preparations ultimate forgery, took him 6 years, 1932 1937. in series of exercises, forged works frans hals, pieter de hooch, gerard ter borch, , johannes vermeer. finally, chose forge painting vermeer masterpiece. vermeer had not been particularly well-known until beginning of twentieth century; works both extremely valuable , scarce — 35 had survived.

van meegeren delved biographies of old masters, studying lives, occupations, trademark techniques, , catalogues. in october 1932, famous art connoisseur , rembrandt expert dr. abraham bredius published article discovered vermeer described painting of man , woman @ spinet. painting later sold amsterdam banker dr. fritz mannheimer.

inventing perfect forgery

in 1932, van meegeren moved village of roquebrune-cap-martin wife. there rented furnished mansion called primavera , set out define chemical , technical procedures necessary create perfect forgeries. bought authentic 17th century canvases , mixed own paints raw materials (such lapis lazuli, white lead, indigo, , cinnabar) using old formulas ensure authentic. in addition, created own badger-hair paintbrushes similar vermeer known have used. came scheme of using phenol formaldehyde (bakelite) cause paints harden after application, making paintings appear if 300 years old. after completing painting, van meegeren bake @ 100 °c (212 °f) 120 °c (248 °f) harden paint, , roll on cylinder increase cracks. later, wash painting in black india ink fill in cracks.

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.

the forger fools hermann göring

han van meegeren s jesus among doctors, called young christ in temple (1945).

during german occupation of netherlands, 1 of van meegeren’s agents sold vermeer forgery christ adulteress nazi banker , art dealer alois miedl in 1942. experts have identified forgery; van meegeren s health declined, did quality of work. chain-smoked, drank heavily, , became addicted morphine-laced sleeping pills. fortunately van meegeren, there no genuine vermeers available comparison, since museum collections in protective storage prevention against war damage. miedl sold reichsmarschall hermann göring 1.65 million guilders ($625,000 or $7 million today).

göring showcased vermeer forgery @ residence in carinhall (about 65 kilometers north of berlin). on 25 august 1943, göring hid collection of looted artwork, including christ adulteress, in austrian salt mine, along 6,750 other pieces of artwork looted nazis. on 17 may 1945, allied forces entered salt mine captain harry anderson discovered unknown vermeer .

in may 1945, allied forces questioned banker , art dealer alois miedl regarding newly discovered vermeer. based on miedl s confession, painting traced van meegeren. on 29 may 1945, arrested , charged fraud , aiding , abetting enemy. remanded weteringschans prison alleged nazi collaborator , plunderer of dutch cultural property, threatened authorities death penalty. labored on predicament, confessed forging paintings attributed vermeer , pieter de hooch. exclaimed, painting in göring’s hands not, assume, vermeer of delft, van meegeren! painted picture! took time verify , detained several months in headquarters of military command @ herengracht 468 in amsterdam. painted last forgery between july , december 1945 in presence of reporters , court-appointed witnesses: jesus among doctors, called young christ in temple in style of vermeer. after trial painting finished, transferred fortress prison blauwkapel. van meegeren released prison in january or february 1946.