The Art of the Con: The Most Notorious Fakes, Frauds, and Forgeries in the Art World

The Art of the Con examines notorious cases of art fraud and forgery. Art scams have become so prevalent and convincing that authentication experts increasingly avoid the field due to legal risks, particularly around mistaken attributions. The cons orchestrated by unscrupulous dealers and their associates involve substantial sums of money and elaborate schemes. Anthony M. Amore documents several significant cases, including stolen artwork concealed for decades, elaborate schemes involving Nazi-looted art, the theft of a conceptual prototype by an artist's assistant used to create unauthorized copies, and online and television auction fraud targeting millions of dollars. The book draws on interviews and newly released court documents to detail the investigations that led to the perpetrators' capture, many of whom returned to criminal activity. These scams succeeded partly because victims shared a common trait: a willingness to believe in the authenticity of what they were purchasing.