Han van Meegeren
Painter and art forger
Born
October 10th, 1889
135 years ago
Died
December 30th, 1947
77 years ago — 58 years old
Category
Artists & Creatives
Country
Netherlands
Links & References
Born in the Netherlands, a painter and art forger achieved notoriety during the early to mid-20th century. Initially trained in traditional painting, later shifted focus to forgery. Created a series of forgeries that were passed off as original works by the Dutch master Johannes Vermeer. One of the most significant forgeries, 'Christ and the Woman of Samaria,' led to a high-profile court case after its sale to a Nazi officer. Conviction in the art world followed, marking a controversial chapter in art history. Despite the scandal, continued to influence discussions on authenticity in art.
Forged paintings attributed to Vermeer
Convicted for art forgery in a high-profile case
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