DUTCHMAN WHO DECEIVED BEST ART CRITICS

Chronicle (Levin), 1 November 1947, Page 5

DUTCHMAN WHO DECEIVED BEST ART CRITICS

Received Fridav, 7 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 31. The Dutchman who confessed in 1945 that he had deceived some of the leading art experts of the world by painting imitations of tlie works of Vermeer and Pieter de Hoogh and selling them as genuine old masters, was brought to trial in Amsterdam this week. He is the 57 years old Hans van Meegeren, a number of whose works was bought by leading Dutch art galleries and connoisseurs after they had been certi/ied as authentic \ ermeers and de llooghs by

mtemational experts. , Ihe case, which has caused one of the greatest sensations in Slie art world ror many vears, wtis watrhed by critics, painters and connoisseurs from all ovei the world. Van .Meegeren admitted his [ deeeption, stating he had carried it out j "in order to show up the ignorance or | niodern international art experts. ' ' He claimed that he had invented a new process which enabled him exactlv to I imitate the style and .tinish of the old masters even to tlie creation of age cracks on the surface of the paint. A num lier of experts who gave evidence agreed that \ran . Meegeren 's work could be certitie.d as genuine Vermeers and de Hooghs. Tlie pul)lic prosecutor, after admitting tlnit the signatures forged on some of Van Meegeren 's paintings, could not j be distinguished from those of tli^ originals, said either it must be admii

ted that accused was a genius or that the certifications given bv some of the leading art experts were 'dishonest. Before the trial and under close police supervision, Van Meegeren had j painted so good an imitatipn'of a Vermeer that experts had deelared that the forgery was ' ' startling. " J1;-

| van .Vleegeren is alleged to have deI frauded the Dutch Government and a number of private buvers of pver | £500,000 by selling them faked pictures. The Rotterdam Aluseum bought one alleged Vermeer for £55,000. The Court's verdict will be pronounced in a fortnight when it wil also decide whether or not Van Meegeren 's imitations are to be destroyed.