Just read Shaun's book and comes over as an ordinary working class bloke. I always get the impression he didn't forge only for the money, but for a love of the art itself.
He now works as a art forgery investigator he lives near me in bolton amazing how he did this fooled all those head stuck up their arse people for years
How sad that an artisan with such potential has to commit crime to receive any adoration. The so called 'experts' exposed as frauds themselves are not angry because they paid money for the work but because they are shown to be inadequate and uninformed. One question if he paid the money given to him then he still owns his works, so did they obtain his permission to exhibit them?
Many Thanks for the upload. The idea that the Roman silver piece towards the end of this clip was made by melting down hundreds of Roman coins is absurd, as explained in Mr Greenhalgh's book. The value of those coins (£35 each if I remember correctly) would have meant the piece cost far more to produce than could have been made from its sale, quite apart from the fact that it would have involved destroying genuine antiquities. It was made from far cheaper, and much more modern, material.
Listen to today's Radio 5 live interview for Shaun's perspective on all of this. He was a misguided artistic genius who loved art and the artists he copied. If he was a true criminal and fraudster he would have been more savvy. He returned almost all of the money he made from his fakes. Initially it was dodgy dealers and auctioneers who took advantage of his artistic talents. I was struck by his candid honesty and remorse in todays interview.
Not saying it's 'right' - but when they had the dosh they should have all buggered off to Croatia! Cannot be arrested from that country - and could have bought a beautiful sea side house by a beach for nothing. Buy a few gold bars for security. Hide the rest of the dosh under the bed. Jesus - if you are going to do this - be smart and have a plan. Han Solo had it spot on - "Don't get cocky kid!:"
Surprised the two museums didn't carbon date the Armana Princess and Assyrian reliefs as part of the verification process? Amazing story. Heard an interview with Shaun, he sounds like an ordinary man, who worked extraordinarily hard at becoming good at what he loves: art. What a legend!
Shaun Greenhalgh got away with art forgery in a very diverse way and he was a supremely talented artist , forgers I would think stick to one type of art usually, wonder what he is doing now. I think why he got away with it for seventeen years is the old story of people wanting to believe , the gallery that paid four hundred thousand for the amana princess really wanted to believe in magic.
I must say I'm very impressed ,I can imagine the amount of work and research each piece must have taken ,not only is he a good artist in production but his idea also is very artistic ,doesn't really look like he was in it for the money ,just giving the world the missing pieces so they can admire them 😂,there us so much more harmful fraud out there,I suppose I can forgive the guy.some artist sell a blot on a white canvas someone else painted for millions that is more lime robbery.yet get away with it .crazy world we live in .he's quite amazing ,
If you got some art work and you take it to Sotheby's they say it's real worth alot money and sell it for you, hey whats the problem, its the so called expert's fault, ha brilliant expert's my arse good on you Mr
I'm from Bolton and followed this case and I'm a massive fan of him. There were rumours, although only unverified that Spielberg had looked into it at the time
