Once myatt had painted the pieces, the real fraud began. How a con man and a forger rewrote the history of modern art adobe epub ebook, kindle book, overdrive read. It was another version of what i call the provenance trap, charney says. Foiling the forgers with noah charney giacometti art agenda. How a con man and a forger rewrote the history of modern art salisbury, laney, sujo, aly on. A piece of journalistic nonfiction, provenance follows the story of two who men conned the great dealers and museum curators of the art world with their fake paintings. John drewe born 1948 is a british purveyor of art forgeries who commissioned artist john myatt to paint them. Chief among those was the struggling artist john myatt, a vulnerable single father. While myatt figures prominently, the book is mainly about john drewe. Provenance its what were reading post learning commons. Although he was talking specifically about art, this highlights the curious nature of collecting, and what makes one item more desirable than another. Apr 08, 2011 laney salisbury and aly sujos book provenance, tells the true story of how two men not only successfully sold forged paintings but also fabricated their provenance to keep dealers and curators in the dark. Recounts the activities of john drewe, who manipulated struggling artist john myatt and other unwitting accomplices to become prolific art forgers whose works drewe successfully passed off as legitimate pieces.
Sep 05, 2016 salisbury and sujos riveting book documents that chaos as it follows john drewe, a chameleon of a man who remains as mysterious to the reader at the end of the book as he does at the beginning. Youll have a month to complete it before we move on to the next book but feel free to read t. Jun 14, 20 john myatt, provenance published on jun 14, 20 a catalogue raisonne of original artwork by john myatt, one of the most significant art forgers of the 21st century, whose debut museum exhi. If you enjoy art this is an excellent book to read. How a con man and a forger rewrote the history of modern art laney salisbury, author, aly sujo. Aly sujo recounts the activities of john drewe, who manipulated struggling artist john myatt and other unwitting accomplices to become prolific art forgers whose works drewe successfully passed off as. Drewe managed to infiltrate the archives of the upper echelons of the british art world in order to fake the provenance of myatt s forged pieces, hoping to irrevocably legitimize the fakes while effectively rewriting art history. But it falls far short of the sweeping promise of its subtitle. How a con man and a forger rewrote the history of modern art 9781594202209 by salisbury, laney.
Laney salisbury and aly sujos book provenance, tells the true story of how two men not only successfully sold forged paintings but also fabricated their provenance to keep dealers and curators in the dark. Jul 18, 1999 peter landesman article on john myatt and john drewe, englishmen who carried out perhaps most ingenious and damaging art con of twentieth century, forging paintings and faking provenance to extent. The true story of one of the twentieth centurys most audacious art frauds filled with extraordinary characters and told at breakneck speed, provenance reads like a. The gripping pageturner provenance by investigative reporters laney salisbury and aly sujo is surely a book equivalent of such a. John drewe only one of his names, a pathological liar with a phenomenal memory for trivia, gleefully trashed the modern history of european art through the 1990s while moving hundreds perhaps thousands of forged paintings through major galleries and auction houses, all the while being feted by the art establishment. Sujo, aly and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices.
Chief among those was the struggling artist john myatt, a vulnerable single father who was manipulated by drewe into becoming a prolific art forger. It is the astonishing narrative of one of the most farreaching and elaborate cons in the history of art forgery. Provenance, the extraordinary true story of john myatt, together with the infamous and cunning conman john drewe, is now told in book form. The true story of one of the twentieth centurys most audacious art frauds filled with extraordinary characters and told at breakneck speed, provenance reads like a wellplotted thriller. The myattdrew partnership created one of the most damaging art hoaxes of the 20th century. Sujo recount the tale of infamous con man and unforgettable villain john drewe and his accomplice, the affable artist john myatt. How a con man and a forger rewrote the history of modern art ebook written by laney salisbury, aly sujo.
John drewe, and his malleable forger, john myatt, a penniless parttime art instructor and single. He insinuated himself into museum archives where he secretly inserted the forged documentation. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read provenance. The book is well paced and reads like a mystery fiction, excerpt you know whodunnit. The book provides a meticulous description of the steps john drewe took to pull off his scam, recounts how he charmed his way into the upper echelons of the renown art institutions, how he gained access to their archives and how he plagued them with fabricated records of fictional exhibitions, restorations, and sales. According to his accomplice and the forger himself, john myatt, about 120 of them are still in circulation at this moment. The leader of the ring forged the provenance which made the deception more difficult to uncover. John myatts life demonstrates how one wrong stepand one wrong partnercan turn a struggling artist into a criminal art forger. John drewe, the central figure around whom the story of this book is built, is a uniquely clever and industrious conman. The book provides a meticulous description of the steps john drewe took to pull off his scam, recounts how he charmed his way into the upper echelons of.
Provenance a tautly paced investigation of one the 20th centurys most audacious art frauds, which generated hundreds of forgeriesmany of them still hanging in prominent museums and private collections todayprovenance is the extraordinary narrative of one of the most farreaching and elaborate deceptions in art history. Provenance book douglas county libraries bibliocommons. While myatt figures prominently, the book is mainly about john drewe, the mastermind behind an incredible and widespread art fraud involving hundreds of paintings and dozens of people who, wittingly or unwittingly, participated in the events over a period of ten years. Enters john drewe, who becomes the biggest client and collector of myatt s genuine fakes, and begins paying john myatt large sums of money in. Myatt forged over 200 modernist paintings, approximately 120 of which are still circulating in the art market, and drewe most likely corrupted the art historical record for generations to come by falsifying provenance documentation. John myatt, struggling artist and single father and john drewe, supposed physicist and art collector. How a con man and a forger rewrote the history of modern art by husbandandwife journalists laney salisbury and aly sujo. I admit that i read the book primarily because of an interest in john myatt, the art forger. Drewe commissioned a copy, and their relationship grew over time.
John drewe, and his malleable forger, john myatt, a. John myatt, born 1945, is a british artist and was convicted of art forgery who, with john drewe, perpetrated what has been described as the biggest art fraud of the 20th century. The book is obviously sympathetic to the art forger john myatt, whom the authors portray as a wellmeaning single father who gets in over his head by painting fakes. Together they exploited the archives of british art. Provenance is the extraordinary narrative of one of the most farreaching and elaborate deceptions in art history.
And then we follow drewe as he cons galleries into accepting the works as genuine with an authentic provenance. The villain is drewe, who duped the great experts of the field and, the book suggests, committed murder to cover his tracks. The story runs from 1986 to 1995 and spans several countries. This is the incredible, gripping story of british con man john drewe and his partner in deception, art forger john myatt. Provenance its what were reading library lifelines. For all its virtues, this book does contain a con of its own a kind perpetuated with avid persistence by the publishing industry.
Provenance is a masterpiece of research fashioned into a wellwritten, tautly paced tale of a strange scandal in the art world. What provenance does is to show you how john drewe recruited john myatt, and then managed to pull off one of the biggest art cons of recent times. Based on his infamous past, myatt is the subject of a 2009 book, provenance, by laney salisbury and the late aly sujo. Drewe finds john myatt, an artist with a remarkable talent for mimicry, and convinces him to create new works in the style of modern masters. Provenance, how a con man and a forger rewrote the history of modern art is the beautifully written, impeccably researched story of a master pathological liarmanipulator. He most recently collaborated with micro sculptor, willard wigan, to create mona lisa.
Myatt had just been abandoned by his wife, along with with two babies in diapers, and was short of money. Peter landesman article on john myatt and john drewe, englishmen who carried out perhaps most ingenious and damaging art con of twentieth century, forging paintings and faking provenance to extent. How a con man and a forger rewrote the history of modern art. John myatt has said that hes seen a couple works hanging on the. Provenance how a con man and a forger rewrote the history of modern art book. The secret in the eye, an artwork mimicking the da vinci masterpiece.
The story of the nineyear scam is told in a new book, provenance. The criminal scheme plotted by british selfproclaimed physics professor john drewe resulted in more than 200 forgeries put on the art market in the period between 1986 and 1995. How a con man and a forger rewrote the history of modern art the man who made. Aug 11, 2009 myatt had a talent for mimicking any art style, so, badly strapped for cash, he placed an ad in londons satirical magazine private eye, which had the kind of wellheeled and hip readership that. Describes art forgery ring in the late 80s to early 90s.
Salisbury and sujos riveting book documents that chaos as it follows john drewe, a chameleon of a man who remains as mysterious to the reader at the end of the book as he does at the beginning. For nearly 10 years, professor john drewe, a truly selfinvented man who laid claim to many names and occupations including physicist, pulled off a complex, twisted art fraud that involved forgerynot only of paintings, but also of their provenance. John myatt, about 120 of them are still in circulation at this moment. Johnny myatt superb artist and one time art forger john myatt was a key characther in provenance, a gripping true story of forging both art and its provenance john myatt tried to be an honest man. It is a fascinating read, going into a lot of detail you really do get a good idea of the people as they really are. He was awarded a scholarship to open his own art studio and supported himself by selling and teaching art for several years.
One always expects the cover description to be complimentary to the book. Provenance is a finely paced, tense look at the art world and one of the most massive art frauds perpetuated in recent history on reputable galleries and museums. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. As the title suggests, his complex swindle involved creating a bogus provenance for the fraudulent works he had commissioned. John drewe duped his way from humble beginnings in southeast england up the social ladder straight into the rarified world of 20th century fine art.
How a con man and a forger rewrote the history of modern art imagine a blockbuster suspense movie that keeps viewers literally glued to the screen forgetting about their surroundings. In the 80s and early 90s, john drewe, the con man in this books subtitle, made. John drewe duped his way from humble beginnings in southeast england up the social ladder straight into the rarified world of. An exciting look at the darker side of the art world. In 1986, when struggling painter and single father john myatt advertised copies of famous paintings, he never imagined hed become a key. Investigative reporters laney salisbury and aly sujo brilliantly recount the tale of a great con man and unforgettable villain, john drewe, and his sometimes unwitting accomplices. Provenance the true story of one of the twentieth centurys most audacious art frauds filled with extraordinary characters and told at breakneck speed, provenance reads like a wellplotted thriller. Provenance is a smoothly written and well researched book, a true account of remarkable events, one that is both instructive and pleasurable to read. Stretching from london to paris to new york, investigative reporters laney salisbury and aly sujo recount the tale of infamous con man and unforgettable villain john drewe and his accomplice, the affable artist john myatt.
Provenance makes a strong case for the havoc wreaked by john drewe and his shenanigans. Provenance share book recommendations with your friends. May 25, 2010 provenance, how a con man and a forger rewrote the history of modern art is the beautifully written, impeccably researched story of a master pathological liarmanipulator. If the summer fiction offerings arent tempting enough to tote to the seaside, pick up provenance. It is incredible to think that drewe was able to get away with this for so long. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. It also delves into the strange world of john drewe, a highly intelligent, inventive, but totally corrupt figure, a sociopath and pathological liar whose life is driven by falsehoods and fantasy.
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