Wichita eagle., 1888-05-16
PICTURE FORGING.
INITIATING THE "OLD MASTERS'
DONE RIGHT IN NEW YORK.

Making Spurious Paintings and Signing
Them with the Names of Famous
Done.
"Did you know that picture forging ON a
grand scale was being done right here in New
York; asked well known connoiseur of a
reporter recently.
The reporter did not know it and asked for
the particulars concerning such an enterprise.
at is shameful TRUTH" continued the
writer's informant, that there are at least
half dozen artists in this city unknown to
the public as such, who are constantly en-
gagged in making spurious paintings and sign
ing such work with the names of famous art
lists The men who make these bogus pict-
ures are all yOung-as artists go-talented,
and without an exception have received the
best training afforded by the foreign schools.
1t is within their means to make for them
selves enviable regulations, but their love for
ready money is greater than their ambition.
They have long and carefully studied the
works Of those noted painters whose pictures
they initiate, and for which there il a con-
stand and ever-increasing demand They
produce finished painting on an average of
one a month. They initiate the work Of such
painters as Rousseau, Dupre, Daubigny,
Millet, and Corot, putting on their canvases
every idiosyncrasy of these masters ham
ding, copying the mannerisms and using the
Same combination of colors, all of which
they have reduced to fine state of perfec-
tion. They know the favorite subjects of
the great painters, and make only such pict-
ures as are popular and get big prices.
AN ART In ITSELF.
"The forging of an artists signature is an
art in itself. The American picture market
is flooded with these spurious paintings by
artistic counterfeiters. The latter often re-
ceive large sums for their most clever irnita-
tions, which are sold TO interruptions dealers
who in turn sell them to wealthy but mex
perienced amateurs, who believe they are
purchasing the original work of the master
whose name occupies7a conspicuous corner OF
the canvas. If by any chance, however, the
amateur finds that he has been sw!rdIed he
will tell no one, as such a revelation would
reflect discreditably upon bis knowledge and
good Judgment as q collector.
"Pictire forging is rampant in Europe, and
tons Of bogus old masters-and not a few
forgeries Of modern ones-are annually
turned out and quickly bought up by par
venu collectors. Such despicable business Is
comparatively new In this country. / know
of one picture forger who devotes himself ex-
ciuSively to painting landscapes I'm The man
ner Of Corot He has a stereotyped subject:
river shore view, with single tree, a white
cottage clearly reflected In the pster. and
q sky Of scurTying clouds This man Is con-
tfnually grinding out such a picture, seldom
varying the subject, and 20 dextefously irni-
tating the unique brush work Of the great
Frenchman that none but an expert or special
student Of Corct's work can detect the differ
ence between a genuine painting By the
latter, OF q similar subject, and fraudulent
picture By this clever cognterfeiter The
latter lives Ia the greatest styIs, surrounded
by every luxury that money caa procure
BE has host Of friends who suppose him TO
be retired broker, ard sutertairs them right
royalty. He has kz studio On tie top floor
Of his pelatial residence, and there surrep<i.
hously paints his bogus Coros landscapes
Hs receives enormous su1s Ter his work, hu.
is az extremely unhappy man, living - be
does in constant fsAr Of exposure and arrest.
BE Is, however, more fortunate than his
brother counterfdts-z, who sye for tie rnoss
part under the thumb Of a dealer, and bang
Q degree les clever ar1 audaesozs, are barely
able se exc out q comfortable hvins by tie
means Of their pictorial frasaa I; "a q highly
unsatisfacsory oocupasson, b say nothing of
il bas@-sess szd consequent danSer1 View
Yo-k Eya-t-.z Sur