Is it a Forgery or the Real Thing?

Can you spot a forgery? Throughout October the Victoria Art Gallery is giving visitors the chance to embrace their inner Sherlock and turn detective.

The Gallery, which is run by Bath & North East Somerset Council, has hidden a forgery among the exquisite art collection in the Upper Gallery. Visitors are being challenged to guess which exhibit is a fake.

The forgery of a famous painting is by renowned artist John Myatt, who was involved in the UK’s biggest art con and is now one of the country’s fastest selling artists.

Those who are able to correctly identify the forged item  can enter a prize draw to win a signed, limited edition print by Myatt , ‘Impression, Sunrise’, in the style of Claude Monet. The print is worth £1,750 and has been donated by Washington Green Fine Art.

Councillor Patrick Anketell-Jones (Conservative, Lansdown), Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said: "We hope visitors to the Victoria Art Gallery will take up the challenge of identifying a forged artwork while enjoying and exploring the delightful collection of paintings, sculpture and decorative arts in the Upper Gallery.”

John Myatt’s infamous career path, which led Scotland Yard to call him “one of the greatest art forgers of the 20th century”, still holds great fascination for his audiences. Over a period of nine years, beginning in 1986, Myatt faked up to 200 works. Only 60 have ever been recovered by police. Many are still hanging on the walls of museums and in the homes of private collections, where they are enjoyed as originals.

The forged painting will be on display at the Victoria Art Gallery from 1 to 25 October 2015. Entry to the permanent galleries is free.

There’s also an opportunity to hear from the artist himself.  On Tuesday 13 October John Myatt will be taking part in a discussion entitled “Fraud in Art”.  He will be joined by criminal lawyer Andrew Banks in the debate chaired by Professor David Blake. For more details visit:  www.victoriagal.org.uk/friends-events.

The display and discussion are kindly supported by Washington Green Fine Art and its nationwide network of retail galleries: Castle Galleries and Castle Fine Art. Castle Fine Art, Bath on Old Bond Street will be holding an exhibition of John Myatt’s new pieces painted in the style of the great art masters from 13 to 25 October 2015. For more information visit: www.castlegalleries.com.