AO News Summary: Actor Steve Martin unknowingly bought and resold forged painting in largest art forgery scandal in German history

AO News Summary: Actor Steve Martin unknowingly bought and resold forged painting in largest art forgery scandal in German history: "

Steve Martin, Via Art Observed

Actor, writer and art collector Steve Martin is embroiled in a scandal, after the painting he purchased, Landschaft mit Pferden (Landscape with Horses) by German-Dutch modernist Heinrich Campendonk has been determined a forgery. He purchased the work from Parisian Gallery Cazeau-Beraudiere for €700,000 (then $850,000) in 2004, and resold the work through Christie’s two years later to a Swiss businesswoman, at a loss of €200,000, or $500,000. Martin is not considered liable for the mistake, and has stated in the press that the French gallery will accept responsibility.

The forgery: Heinrich Campendonk, Landschaft mit Pferden (claimed 1915, likely ca. 1990-2004). Via Der Spiegel

more images and story after the jump…

An authentic Heinrich Campendonk, Zwei Pferde mit Fohlen (Two Horses with Foal), ca. 1913-1914. Via Christies

The falsified Landschaft mit Pferden by Heinrich Campendonk had apparently been authenticated by a German art expert prior to the initial Parisian sale, and continues to be considered an excellent forgery. Investigators allege that the forgery was done by Wolfang Beltracchi, who led a multimillion dollar crime ring with his wife Helene, her sister Jeannette, and fellow forger Otto Schulte-Kellinghaus since the 1990s. The group is suspected to have sold as many as 44 fake works by Fernand Leger, Max Ernst and Max Pechstein among others, doctoring provenance from their grandfathers: Helene and Jeannette’s grandfather was a Cologne businessman Werner Jagers, and Otto’s grandfather was a tailor named Knops. All works were claimed to have been saved during World War II. The entire ring has been charged with fraud.

This is not Steve Martin’s first forgery mistake, but he claims he has become more cautious from each experience. The 65 year old’s private collection includes works by Pablo Picasso, Edward Hopper, and Roy Lichtenstein among others, and has been showcased at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas. More recently he published a book about a fictitious New York art girl, An Object of Beauty, which was met with much acclaim.

This controversy reveals the fragility of authenticated artwork, even to the most sophisticated and expert set. Although this is neither Steve Martin’s first experience with forgery nor the first publicized copy by the German ring, it is arguably the most high profile case for both worlds, linking Hollywood and the international art scene on a globally scandalized scale.

-A. Bregman

Related Links

Steve Martin Swindled: German Art Forgery Reaches Hollywood [Der Spiegel]

Forged Painting Was Once in Collection of Steve Martin, German Police Say [Arts Beat - The New York Times]

Steve Martin victim of German art forgery [The Guardian]

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