The Many Faces of Art Forgery: From the Dark Side to Shades of Gray

"Forgery is not everywhere in the art world, but the uncomfortable reality is that it can be anywhere," writes former art dealer Casement in this illuminating survey. Just as beauty is thought to be in the eye of the beholder, Casement argues the concept of authenticity can also be interpreted subjectively and culturally. To that end, he takes a fascinating look at the long history of art forgery, from ancient Roman times--when "exorbitant prices" driven by avid collectors (including Caesar) led artisans to produce numerous copies "fashioned after Greek masters"--up to the present, when an unprecedented number of fakes flood the market (with the art of 17th-century French painter Corot being a favorite target). Casement uses forgery as a lens through which to ask striking questions of greed, acquisitiveness, duplicity, racism, and other aspects of human frailty.... This serves as a potent reminder that caveat emptor remains in full force today.

Casement, a philosopher and former professor and art dealer, provides a treasure trove of information that will engage readers intrigued by but new to the subject of art forgery as well as those with an art or art history background. This comprehensive history of forgery around the world covers the motivations and techniques of forgers and the economic impact and ethical issues involved with counterfeit artworks.

Former philosophy professor and art gallery owner Casement parses theories about this intriguing subject's ethics and economics. In so doing, he highlights the historical and psychological context surrounding 80 perpetrators of art forgery and the prosecution of (mostly) Western fake art from antiquity to modern times.... This carefully organized exposition is light on the sensational and, while not strictly scholarly, contains heady discussion on many facets of this captivating topic that apparently is here to stay.

Based on deep scholarship across a remarkably broad field, yet written with a light touch...a notably excellent book of importance and potentially wide interest.

This is an extremely well researched and structured book that does not overlook a single relevant issue in the area of art fraud while presenting the topic in a very accessible way.

Takes the reader on a provocative and highly informative trek through the world of art fraud, profiling cases and bad actors and controversial perspectives on authenticity.

Provides a truly panoptic yet readable insight into the multi-faceted 'discipline' of art forgery, through the eyes, and with the anecdotal colour, of a seasoned and experienced art professional.