Provenance: How a Con Man and a Forger Rewrote the History of Modern Art

Provenance follows the true story of John Drewe and John Myatt, two men who perpetrated one of the most extensive art forgery schemes of the 20th century. Their criminal partnership spanned nearly a decade and infiltrated major museums and institutions across Europe. The book traces how Myatt, a struggling artist, became entangled with Drewe, a mysterious figure who promised to sell Myatt's paintings as original works by famous artists. Their operation expanded beyond mere forgeries into an elaborate con involving the fabrication of fake documentation and tampering with museum archives. The investigation that ultimately exposed their scheme required coordination between art experts, archivists, and law enforcement across multiple countries. Through interviews and extensive research, authors Laney Salisbury and Veronica Salisbury reconstruct the complex web of deception that fooled the art world's most respected authorities. This account raises fundamental questions about authenticity in art and the systems of trust that underpin the global art market. The story demonstrates how the careful maintenance of provenance records serves as both a safeguard and a potential vulnerability in establishing artistic legitimacy.

Readers describe this as a fast-paced investigation into art forgery that reads like a thriller. Multiple reviews note the clear explanations of complex art world mechanics and forgery techniques. Liked: - Detailed research and reporting - Engaging narrative structure - Clear explanations of technical details - Strong character development of John Myatt and John Drewe Disliked: - Some sections drag with excessive detail - A few readers found the chronological jumps confusing - Several note the ending feels rushed Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (180+ ratings) Representative review: "The authors manage to explain the intricacies of provenance and authentication while maintaining suspense. Perfect balance of art history and true crime." - Goodreads reviewer Another reader notes: "The level of access to key players sets this apart from other art crime books, though it sometimes gets bogged down in minutiae."

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🎨 The forgery scheme exposed in the book spanned 14 years and resulted in more than 200 faked paintings being sold to prestigious museums and collectors worldwide. 🖼️ John Drewe, the mastermind con man, didn't forge artwork himself but instead focused on creating elaborate false documentation, even going so far as to alter museum archives to create convincing provenances. 📚 Author Laney Salisbury worked as a foreign correspondent for United Press International and covered art and antiquities trafficking before writing this book with Aly Sujo. 🏛️ The Victoria & Albert Museum's archive was compromised when Drewe gained access by posing as a wealthy donor and researcher, allowing him to plant fake documents and alter genuine records. 🖌️ John Myatt, the forger who painted the fake artworks, used ordinary house paint mixed with K-Y Jelly to replicate the texture of oil paintings, yet his works still fooled experts at Christie's and Sotheby's.