Fine Fakes
I read Jon Dellandrea’s article (“Ingenious Imitations,” June-July 2021) with delight. I have a Krieghoff painting — maybe. It was owned by my cousin David Ritchie who owned Ritchie’s Art Gallery in Toronto. He was unable to authenticate it before he died. I regret that I have no idea where he obtained it.
According to the notes that came with it, it was painted at the correct time and depicts a subject Krieghoff was known to have painted. Of course, it is signed. In fact, it came with a number of hopeful signs but no authentication by a specialist.
My friends who know of it have suggested that I proceed with finding out if it is a real Krieghoff. I don’t much care. I like the story and was advised when I inherited it that Krieghoff was one of the most copied (faked) artists in Canadian history.
I suppose, if it is real, it is my most expensive painting. I have no idea what a fake might be worth. I tend to agree with art forger David Henty. If some artist is good enough to paint a copy that takes a very good expert to tell if it is a fake, then why is the original worth millions and the copy little? Ian McKee via email