The Mind Creative March 2014
cars and was a frequent visitor to the Monte Carlo casinos. He was
ultimately caught out when artist Hiro Yamagata was surprised to
find what was purported to be his own work hanging in a gallery.
Considered by many to be the greatest living art forger, Tetro
currently produces copies for private clients. However, based on the
directive from the courts, he needs to put his own signature on his
works.
John Myatt initially tried to be an honest man
by trying to sell his copies as “genuine fakes”.
Driven by a lack of success, Myatt then teamed
up with a client John Drew and masterminded
a scheme through which they were able to sell
over 200 forgeries to private buyers and auction
houses including Christie’s and Sotheby’s. His
forgeries included works by Roger Bissiere,
Marc Chagall, Le Corbusier, Jean Dubuffet,
Alberto Giacometti, Matisse, Ben Nicholson,
Nicolas de Staël and Graham Sutherland. He
was arrested in September 1995.
After his release from jail, Myatt has continued
painting his “genuine fakes” for private clients
and has also held exhibitions. His “known” fakes
are reported to have been sold for up to 45,000
pounds per piece.
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