Midland sale of art reproductions by reformed fraudster
THEY are the art masterpieces that are a real steal... because they’re fakes by a jailed forger.
Midland artist John Myatt ended up behind bars in 1999 for his part in what Scotland Yard dubbed the 20th century’s biggest contemporary art fraud.
Now back on the straight and narrow, some of his masterpieces are up for auction next week.
Three of Myatt’s ‘Genuine Fakes’ will go under the hammer on January 8 at The Lichfield Auction Centre, Fradley Park.
Arrested in 1995 and imprisoned in Brixton in 1999, Myatt had spent nearly a decade creating more than 200 forgeries of famous 19th and 20th century painters in an illicit trade that began as a means of caring for his children.
He was nicknamed Picasso in prison but upon release vowed never to paint again – until the policeman who had arrested him stepped in, commissioning a family portrait and paying him £5,000 for the work, and it went from there.
Before he knew it, he had commissions from the barristers who ran the case against him, and was making money legitimately as an artist.
Now three of the former art teacher’s replicas will go under the hammer.
Henri Matisse’s Algerian Nude – signed ‘John Myatt Genuine Fakes’ – is dated 2000, the year after Myatt was released from prison after serving four months.
There is a fake of Marc Chagall’s Flowers By Moonlight, dated 2001, and a replica of Alberto Giacometti’s Portrait Of Annette on a canvas dating back to 2000, but overpainted in 2009. The ‘Matisse’ and ‘Chagall’ are each valued at £2,000.
The ‘Giacometti’, which has somewhat ironically been exhibited at West Mercia Police Academy, is estimated to fetch £2,500.
The back of the picture bears a personalised inscription to John Anderson, a Staffordshire artist who also paints in the style of 20th century masters. Twenty-seven works by Anderson feature in the same auction, including copies of works by famous masters including Matisse, Degas, Monet, Giacometti, Henri Rouseau and LS Lowry.
AWhile Myatt’s paintings – despite being created with a blend of Dulux emulsion paint and KY Jelly – are perfect replicas, Anderson’s work is characterised by changes to the originals. Included in the sale is Anderson’s version of Monet’s The Water Lily Pond, one of the most famous pictures of the 20th century.
“With Anderson’s work, there is always some detail that’s slightly different,” says David Fergus, decorative arts valuer at Richard Winterton Auctioneers.
“On one Lowry picture the original has a man leaning backwards. In Anderson’s version, he is missing.
“And on the Lowry Procession, there’s a marching band in the dis- tance. On this painting by Anderson, it isn’t there at all – the whole point of the picture is missing!
“The procession is not there and neither is half the crowd. There’s no way anyone is going to mistake if for the real thing.”
Mr Fergus added: “John Myatt is considered one of the greatest master forgers of the 20th century. His paintings are so good that legend has it there are some 120 hanging in galleries all around the world.
“No-one knows for sure. Whether it’s Myatt’s uncanny reproductions or Anderson’s knowing replicas, this auction is a great opportunity to get something as good as the real thing at a fraction of the price.”