The Man Who Made Vermeers: Unvarnishing the Legend of Master Forger Han van Meegeren

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The Man Who Made Vermeers: Unvarnishing the Legend of Master Forger Han van Meegeren

Editorial Review

It's a story that made Dutch painter Han van Meegeren famous worldwide when it broke at the end of World War II: a lifetime of disappointment drove him to forge Vermeers, one of which he sold to Hermann Goering, making a mockery of the Nazis. And it's a story that's been believed ever since. Too bad it just isn't true.

Jonathan Lopez has done what no other writer could--tracking down primary sources in four countries and five languages to tell for the first time the real story of the world's most famous forger. Neither unappreciated artist nor antifascist hero, Van Meegeren emerges in The Man Who Made Vermeers as an ingenious, dyed-in-the-wool crook--a talented Mr. Ripley armed with a paintbrush, who worked virtually his entire adult life making and selling fake Old Masters. Drawing upon extensive interviews with descendents of Van Meegeren's partners in crime, Lopez also explores the networks of illicit commerce that operated across Europe between the wars. Not only was Van Meegeren a key player in that high-stakes game during the 1920s, landing fakes with powerful dealers and famous collectors such as Andrew Mellon (including two pseudo-Vermeers that Mellon donated to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.), but the forger and his associates later offered a case study in wartime opportunism as they cashed in on the Nazi occupation.

The Man Who Made Vermeers is a long-overdue unvarnishing of Van Meegeren's legend and a deliciously detailed story of deceit in the art world.

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
• No color plates?
  This is a really good book, but I was disappointed that there are no color plates. Also, even though there are a lot of black & white reproductions and really interesting historical photos, the printing quality is not especially good. This is a shame, because the author spends a lot of time discussing paintings and also historical events depicted in the photos. I also read the other book on Van Meegeren that came out this year, which really sucked, especially in comparison to this one, but it did at... more info
• The story of a man whose lifetime of disappointment led him to become famous for forging Vermeers
  Deserving of ongoing mention is the story of a man whose lifetime of disappointment led him to become famous for forging Vermeers - and whose much-publicized story wasn't true. Author Jonathan Lopez tracked down primary sources in four countries and five languages to reveal the real story of the man famous for forging Vermeers, revealing the real story of his talents and efforts. A 'must' for any art library strong in Van Meegeran's legend and art world deceit.
  
• The Essential faux-Vermeer
  Aside from being the most finely researched and best written study on the spectacular forgery case of Vermeer paintings by Han van Meegeren, "The Man Who Made Vermeers" holds a gem. Perhaps its most far-reaching accomplishment is that for the first time Lopez provides the answer to the central question which has either been tactfully avoided or inadequately addressed by those who has taken up the subject: how could have the most renowned museum curators, art dealers and private collectors been taken by... more info
• Super pleasure reading
  Nicely told, and the story's completely new to me. Gives very nice historical background details and good observations and comments on paintings. Excellent historical photos illustrating the text. Fun book.

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