3 Mysterious Portraits Send Art Detectives Across The Globe | Fake Or Fortune 

That older couple with the painting of the 1700s woman are so cute. They're interested in the subject of the painting as a person - "she's somebody's daughter" - so sweet!

The fact that no official institute in the US will verify that picture for fear of being sued...forgive me, but it shows how wrong this whole "sueing for money" is. It creates this atmosphere of angst which extends into every aspect of living. Horrible!

I was very touched by the reaction of the grandson of the owner of the not-Menzel. It is always a difficult question for people of my age, the grandchildren of the war generation. It speaks so highly to the character of the grandfather that he did really risk everything to protect his employee and the employee's family. You can freeze on the closeup of the page of testimony at 46:40 and 47:22 and read more of the grandfather's description of his negotiations with the Gestapo on the man's behalf. The revelation of his act of righteousness is certainly the most important information to come out of this episode. His family should be very proud.

Honestly, it is messed up that someone signed Menzel's name to "The Old General", sad, because the artist who painted is was an amazing talent and should have been proud to sign their own name to it.

The Old General was my favorite! Whoever did it had a great eye and yes, much emotion comes through. I would call it a treasure no matter the monetary value! His family story is priceless!

if the "old general" is a fake, the maker is a great, unknown master who should be MORE famous than the one he emulated

So much for not being able to show the portrait of Rene! I Googled it and found it immediately.

Bizarre decision by the de Kooning Foundation to 'blank' the known genuine 'Portrait of Renée' when it is instantly available through Google. If I were, miraculously, given the right to choose just one of these three, it would unquestionably be 'The Old General'. There is so much apparent life, energy and character in that face, it would draw me back time after time - many, many more times than the other two combined!

I'm no expert, and don't want to be sued, but the de Kooning looked right to me.

Very moving emotion when the true riches of one man were beheld by his grandson. Could art imitate such a gift?

I love how the portrait of a lady piece was described as " a (real) person in the room". Can't think of a better description of a good portrait. ☺️ Merry Xmas 🌲

I thought I had seen all of the Fake or Fortunes but this one had slipped past me. It was fascinating, particularly the history of the family of The Old General, that subject matter is close to my heart.

I was surprised how yellow the portrait of the young woman remained even after cleaning. I could not discern any difference from its appearance before cleaning.

I remember seeing this episode years ago. I wonder what has developed with the child in red since. Enjoyed it just as much second time.

It's sad to me that only after the artist dies their art works become important. And the artist may never know or reap the monetary value of their works.

I loved all 3 works. I’d be thrilled to sit and look at any of them. Valuations are so bizarre. The old general was an amazing piece of art…so which part of it was ‘fake’!?! Great show.

So bizarre that in the US they not only can't get an opinion on a possible de Kooning, but also that even showing images of other authenticated paintings by the artist is banned by the relevant institute. What a silly country it is.

Ateliers Mommen... Where is the time. A friend of mine worked there late 50s, mixing pigments & oil, assembling frames etc. For decennies there used to live an extensive colony of artists in the rest of the buildings. Was quite a place 🙂

For starters, the signature under The Old General is nothing like Menzel’s signature. It is more like initials and not a full signature. Then there is the style of the picture. It is nothing like anything shown here by Menzel’s hand. Finally, The Old General is, to my taste, far better than anything by Menzel that I have seen so far.

Ah....Fiona impresses us with her knowledge of French as well as Italian.

Fascinating to hear about the people affected by and connected by art.

I think it would be just as interesting to own a forgery. Not for any monetary value, but fascinating to own and thought provoking about the forger.

The old adage holds true, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”.

I love Fake or Fortune. It's a roll of the dice.

"The General" is a beautiful Romantic painting. Too much "activity" and "motion" though for a Menzel, as the expert correctly said. Reminded me of a Eugene Delacroix or Caspar David Friedrich, especially Delacroix's Chopin portraint.

123022. Commenter Ratana shifu pointed out, "The child clutches the flask of a soldier. So his facial expression has meaning."

I find it irritiating that the "experts" keep referring to de Kooning as "William". His name was Willem.

The Old General is my favourite of all of them. A guy could save a lot of money buying fakes that are better than most originals

It is very inspiring all these videos of you, guys! It brings many colors to this fake life! One nurtures oneself by watching them! Truly!

I have a little painting that was my grandmother's (1895-1983). I don't know where she got it but it is signed Matisse and looks nothihng like his work. It's small and it's as if whoever painted it was just painting their desk in the studio. A vase full of brushes, with a scene of a boat painted on the vase, part of a tapestry turned back on a corner, and a photo of the painting of Matiss' wife tacked up on the wall. I have thought of giving it to a second-hand store because I don't think it's really a Matisse. Someone told me, "There are other people with that name." It's done in a very realistic style so the painter knew how to paint well.

This is my first video by Perspective. Loved it.

Oh yes,it's so interesting,thank you very much 😌

Well done…great episode…be safe and sound…

I’m curious about this artist. His paintings look similar to the DeKooning in question. “Moïse Kisling, born Mojżesz Kisling, was a Polish-born French painter. He moved to Paris in 1910 at the age of 19, and became a French citizen in 1915, after serving and being wounded with the French Foreign Legion in World War I. He emigrated to the United States in 1940, after the fall of France, and returned there in 1946.

This is a very interesting episode of Fake or Fortune. I have a small painting (portrait) in the style of Pierre Auguste Renoir. A prominent art gallery in London who specializes in impressionist works congratulated me on my purchase and suggested I submit the piece to the Wildenstein Plattner Institute in Paris. I am somewhat hesitant to do this due to cost. It is an expensive proposition if one finds out the work is a very good forgery, although it is technically not a forgery as it is not signed.

46:59 when last nights sauerkraut comes back to pay a visit to you and your friends

I love menzel’s painting of his sister

Why wasn't the Menzel also examined in terms of colour like the picture by de Kooning ? For me it is clearly a masterpiece by Menzel The brillance of the expression in this old face, which only an expert of the stature of a Menzel can achieve The fact that not only the authenticity (...in the case of the Menzel picture), but also the ownership is being questioned, I find quite sobering for the nice man from a german- english family Likewise the lovely Belgian couple who now have to track down the homeless previous owner, who will then blow it all up anyway Where is the ideal moral truth ?!

WTF?! Copy right restrictions mean they cannot show a painting in a video, as seen in z glimpse from an angle?! In what way does this infringe upon the copyright holders' rights? Madness!

Love this series so much I'll even tolerate all the adds.

I’m pretty certain the artist did not paint that portrait of the lady in dark dingy colours, did he really clean it?? Maybe the friend who cleaned it really did a job on it sadly.

i knew a woman whose father was german and mother jewish and his employer had to go to the gestapo and arrange to have his wife left alone, fortunately the children looked classically blonde german

My family always wondered who started Menzels Pencils and Stencils. I think i found him!

I've been curious as to who pays for the investigations?

Another Great Episode! Thank You!! May God Jehovah the Father and Jesus Christ Bless Y ou all!!

I am enraptured by "The Old General". I see strength in his face..but humour also...the look of an older man, but one with no apologies to make...no regrets. I nearly never wax rhapsodic over art, as I am not even remotely qualified to do so. But Something about "The Old General" reaches deep in me...and strikes a chord. And Something within me echoes back... ADDENDUM: In light of the outcome of the investigation into "The Old General", one might expect to have a change of heart toward the piece. But... Perhaps my LACK of knowledge of Art frees me to have the emotional bond with "The Old General" intact...for its own sake. I genuinely do not know...but if it brands me negatively to accept a piece on its own merit-or lack thereof-so be it. One shouldn't alter perception of PEOPLE based upon legitimacy; And Art-at least in this case-is the depiction of a PERSON. I am FAR from being an Art Purist. The initial connection stands..

The story of the derKoonig seems rather suspicious. Isn't that a common forger tactic to explain the lack of provenance for a piece of work by claiming some down on their luck person decided to sell in a hurry? Of course they usually get more cash for it and there are other signs, so it may be the genuine article. Just thinking that should give a bit of pause.

“If the people who sold it to you did not have the right to sell it, you don’t own it.” Good to know. Now let’s talk Elgin Marbles.

What season and episode of Fake or Fortune is this. ( I'm looking for a video of this episode that doesn't have the rude commercial at the start to put in my Great Art playlist).

Funny how the fake is, by far, the superior painting.

I am always afraid someone will steal my own artwork and poetry. I've been writing and drawing since I was seven years old. I've been told by lots of people I should get published. It costs money to get published and get a proof reader. I am handicapped and I can't work. I have had one art piece that was stolen from me and I got help by the owner of the website where the thief had an account. The owner changed their rules after they helped me get my artwork back. They suspended the account and they have told me if I ever wanted to join their community I have free access to their membership. They are very good people. I am honored and grateful. I do need to research more to find out if anything else has been taken. It's hard work to be an artist and poet. It's not always about sharing your skills you have to be careful how you share if you don't want criminals to steal from you.

Old General? Nah, Dr Who. Looks just like Hartnell.

Why do these presenters keep referring to paintings, which are works of art and are not technical such as modern photography provides, as pictures. They are paintings which are representative of an artist’s interpretation of a subject. To me these are paintings; not pictures.

Why was Portrait of Renee blurred when I was able to get an image of it from a Google search?

I wish they had panned the lady who seemed to always be looking at you, so we could experience her gaze.

The little boy is signed by the man. just find another painting with the same signature. no more need to keep it going. we learned that he used this signature when he was painting in his area.

The end title from the DaVinci code and Lily's theme from Harry Potter in the last episode.

The Art World is ridiculous. Books are judged by their individual merit, not by the fame of the author. Music is the same. A musician can write a song which is a huge hit and follow it up with a flop. Only in the Art World, fueled by uber wealthy speculators with more money than brains/taste, does the value of a art work link so directly with who created it. Individual pieces of original art should be valued by their own merit, not by who created them. I found the portrait of a child exquisite, regardless of authorship.

I find that there seems to be a marked difference between 19th and 20/21st century sketches and book illustrations (not speaking of paintings here). Modern renditions - even if attempting to emulate older illustrations - appear less elaborate. Maybe the technique has changed, or is it that modern artists work much faster? This is an amateur judgement: I would love to hear the opinions of those with artistic experience.

I like picture of the girl , didn't a 1st, its has more depth

WHEN THE OWNERS PAINTING PROVES TO BE AUTHENTIC, & VALUABLE, IT MAKES ME HAPPY,,,,, WHEN IT TURNS OUT TO BE A WORTHLESS FAKE, I'M EVEN HAPPIER !

👍

Art. = sell the sizzle, not the steak.

This Series offers most enjoyable Journeys... It also demonstrates just how prevalent among the population, most particularly, among the Experts, the individuals are living through and control by the Human ("Lower Mind, aka Ego Mind, aka Adolescent Mind ") where all our negative, leatned fear based ideologies, thoughts energies reside. The Higher Mind, aka Mature Mind, holds our evolving, our Positive Thought Energies, and it is where Wisdom resides. Beth Bartlett Sociologist/Behavioralist and Historian Tennessee, USA

I TRULY ENJOY YOUR PRESENTATIONS....... BUT ONE THING BOTHER's ME...... YOUR NOT ONLY DEALING WITH THE PAINTINGS...BUT YOU'RE DEALING WITH THE EGO'S OF THE SO CALLED ART CRITICS, AND THEIR INSTITUTIONS....... I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT SOME ART INSTITUTIONS LIE ABOUT WHAT IS REAL AND WHAT IS NOT.... TO BENEFIT THEMSELVES.......

To me the portrait of a child looked like a bad "paint by numbers"

REMINDS ME OF JOHN SINGER SARGEANT

If theres not a body in the USA to qualify an original or fake then how in reason does anyone have authority to prevent the owner from showing her compared painting . Seems over reaching !

First shown in 2016.

They say that in the art and antique world its posible 20 to 40% is wrongly attributed or some other wrongly date or interpretation is been done. Nobody is perfect. 🤔😅

A quick google search will find you the de Kooning they couldn't show (hint: Portrait Of Rene de Kooning). You didn't hear this from me ;-)

youtube premium.........no commercials

I love this show handsome guy hot girl ,,,what a match

Did they do testing on old general or show comparison to menzels real ones? Why not?

26:47. This meeting of the two men looks very theatrical and in fact it looks like a Norman Rockwell painting on the cover of a magazine. Not to mention the buffoons shown at 27:23! Yet somehow your so-called expert (Claude Kaisch) says the portrait of The Old General looks too theatrical (44:45) to be real. Does this guy really know what he’s talking about or does he not think that we’ve seen the other confirmed paintings? He can’t have it both ways. I think the only thing fake about this painting is Kaisch!

I like the lady host on here but cannot stand the guy that cohosts after what he did to that poor girl that found the art in the trash pile. He had no right to interfere and take everything from her so that it would go to an indivdual that he wanted. Hopefully Karma will meet him one day.

You can Google Portrait of Renee.

Lazy, amateurish to have a spelling mistake right there on the click screen. It's de Kooning, not de Koonig.

The name is pronounced Co- ning, not Coo-ning.

I make art for me that my son called dark and refused to look at. My revange is i never sell it and when i die he has to deal with it....mwahahaha. It's healing to art just for healing then put it away and move on. Fun fun fun

Is there a pilgrimage to miami ?

Mercier made everyone into egg headed cartoonish characters…very cute but not real to life portraits…

As a former antiquarian bookseller, I find it odd that the purported values of the works shown are estimated when they've never been put on the block. I think these folks are trying to "make a market" by simply asserting high values as an artificial baseline. It would help their case if they were to tell us what other works by these artists have fetched in the past.

My understanding has always been that a five-angle valve job should only be done on the intake valves because the exhaust valve needs the increased cooling from coming into the increased contact with the valve seat that a three-angle grind gives.

There is nothin that bendor cannot bend.

so Mercier was a prussian, brussels was also under the nazis, and wasnt that painters name Adolf?

my first impression of "the general" is not German, but very American looking... for the Kooning provenance, I'm very confused... the name of the son or the old man depicted here in his youth should be still known to the seller?!?? if the purchasing circumstances are suspect - if at least the name of the "child" can be historically be confirmable to been in the surroundings of the painter; that should still "fix" a lot...

Beauty or skill doesnt matter I guess

Nice German man.

Sorry, but ads every 3 or 4 minutes is ridiculous. Being inundated with ads at this overwhelming rate detracts from the quality of the video & is insulting & irritating for viewers.

Even with the video slowed down, I can't understand about 1/3 of what these people say. At 3:09 "The yen is from Belgium and the yang is crisp sparks." At 3:31: "As an early feather-tip work, this would be just one of a handful of..." "A German artist called Handel von Mentsger." How about showing us how one spells that? These people lack the clear diction needed for broadcasting.

I should have been a copyist faker! But alas I have moral.

tip of my tongue; seig shue something but i think this kid is done by a female dutch? who was into peat bogs lets see, )

It is Willem de Kooning So not koonig .....

Crimes

Why would you put that part in the end about the owner, now ever Tom Dick and Harry are going to call in claiming the painting. WTF is wrong with y'all. Tighten up. That is something that should not have been put out there. the painting would have been put out in the world and let someone on there own. All you did it give good ground for scammers to make claims. be smarter next time.

AN EXAMPLE....... WHEN YOUR TEAM COMES ACROSS A PAINTING, AND YOU ALL COME UP ALL THE EVIDENCE NEEDED TO PROVE A PAINTING IS THE REAL THING...SOME HIGH--NOSED ART INSTITUTE WILL AT TIMES SAY, YOUR WRONG, WHEN THEY KNOW PAINTING IS REAL!!!!!!! BUT DON'T WANT TO ADMIT IT FOR THEIR OWN DARK REASONS! THAT IS IRRITATING....

Beautiful painting of the child in red. Face resembles Fiona.

Are the works in question brilliant? Beautiful? Whatever? If so, why is the painter/provenance important?

So much of the talk about art sounds like the opinionated subjective bullshit we hear about wine.