Forgers and Forgeries

The book invites listeners to rethink what a forgery really is, showing that it is less about the creator’s intention and more about how an object is presented. It begins by unpacking the paradox that many forgeries arise from admiration, curiosity, or even a desire for artistic rivalry, rather than pure greed. Through vivid anecdotes, the author draws a line between innocent imitation and the calculated deception that later defines the market.

From a youthful Michelangelo carving a “ancient” Cupid to 19th‑century sculptors like Giovanni Bastianini and Alceo Dossena who fashioned Renaissance look‑alikes, the narrative follows a cast of craftsmen who saw their work as a challenge to the past. It also delves into the darker side, profiling figures such as H. A. Van Meegeren, whose Vermeer forgeries were as much a personal vendetta as a profit scheme, and the infamous Piltdown hoax that fooled scientists for decades.

Presented with clear, engaging prose, the work balances scholarly insight with storytelling, making the hidden histories of these art impostors accessible to anyone curious about the fine line between creation and deception.