The Fiction of Forgery, A Talk by Julia Clayton

Join Julia Clayton for an exploration of how the subject of art forgery is presented in fiction. Using a combination of real-life and fictional examples of art forgery, including Han van Meegeren’s Vermeer forgeries, this talk will examine what makes a successful forgery, and how forgers might succeed by exploiting gaps in art history, recreating lost artworks or meeting the expectations of art historians. They will also be exploring how art-fiction can help us answer some key questions about forgery and authenticity: Can forgery ever be morally justified? Can a forgery have the same aesthetic value as a genuine painting, and if so, does that mean that the idea of authenticity is over-valued  in the art market?