The Expert versus the object: judging fakes and false attributions in the visual arts

Abstract

The authenticity of art has always commanded the attention of experts, dealers, collectors and the art-minded public - especially those who relish the Robin Hoods of art forgery who deceive rich collectors and pompous experts. This book os essays, edited by a lawyer specializing in art law and authenticity, proposes to make the question of authenticity more easily understood. The mainpoints to be argues are (1) that the pereption of form in a work of art is not like other types of evidence accepted in courts of law; (2) that in determining authenticity, experts must adopt a careful, organized approach; (3) that all authentication should be based on the consensus of experts at arm's length from an object.