FAKE OR FORTUNE SE2EO3 ANTHONY VAN DYCK 

Phillip is beautiful and vulnerable in this episode. Revealing the anxiety he feels. I respect his admission that he has lost the ability to view the painting objectively. I have paused the tape at 52:22 to write this, so I don't know the outcome yet. As for Fiona, her voice of reason and caution throughout balances this episode perfectly. I love Fake or Fortune! I just can't get enough of it. Forget murder mysteries!

Just discovered this series and have to say I’ve been binge watching ever since. Incredible….

I trained as a conservator and I have to admit if I had been asked to work on this painting, I would have a lot of sleepless nights.

Well, I would say this is the best episode I've seen--but I feel that way after every episode! What a great discovery to find this series! Bravo BBC, Fiona, and Philip!

The restoration on this painting was phenomenal. I've seen many restorations, including the cleaning, Removal of over painting and finally the the retouching of lost paint but the scale and incredible work the woman created on this piece has got to have been the hardest, scariest, and time consuming and then to come out with a painting like this at the level of quality achieved through her hard work is the ultimate of the very very best. All praise to her because this wouldn't exist if it wasnt for her skill and dedication.

I wish I had even known there was such a trade as conservation of artefacts when growing up, I would have loved to have learned this skill and made a career out of it. I love what these people do, not just art but archaeological artefacts as well. How exciting to see lovely things emerge.

I hope Phillip, and his partner, know exactly how well this reflects on their 'eye'. Regardless of all else, they did see something no one else had in hundreds of years.

This was the best episode I have seen. I couldn't imagine being able to remove the lacquer from a painting and to not ruin the painting below it. But to follow that by removing a painting without destroying the paining below, that seemed totally unbelievable. It was fascinating to watch the process. Congrats to the woman who was able to do such amazing work. What an eye Bendor has and what guts Mould has, to take such a chance of destroying a well known work of art and gamble that there is a better painting below it. Bravo for showing the intricate work that was required. Thanks to vanitytrash for the download. I have watched this episode many times.

Bendor's "happy face".... PRICELESS!!!

we need episodes showing us what finally happened to each painting ... were they kept or sold, and if so for how much ?

I was blown away by the work of the restorers,incredible patience and dedication.At 25 grand i think that is a bargain.

The restored face of Henrietta Maria is so beautiful--& it's just as they said initially that van Dyck had a way of emphasizing the best features even on a not traditionally beautiful person. Her skin, her eyes, her nose absolutely sing, as it were.

Philip is a man of great courage. Bravo!

Well I don’t think any other episode can top this one! Very exciting, with bated breath we all waited until the closing moments to fine the results. I feel satisfied!

One of the best ever programmes from a brilliant series. Love watching experts doing their stuff - Phillip, Bendor, the two incredible restorers and the van Dyck expert right at the end who was absolutely on it after just a brief acquaintance with the painting. Pulled together effortlessly by Fiona Bruce. Programmes like this is why we happily pay our TV licence

The only episode I've enjoyed watching more than once. The stakes, the utter beauty of the restoration, the nerves for presenters who I genuinely enjoy watching...this episode has so much. This painting is gorgeous. The face and the complexity of the red fabric, it just screams decadence and beauty.

Christie's sold it in 2022: "Further highlights included Anthony van Dyck’s beautifully tender Portrait of Queen Henrietta Maria which achieved £2,442,000 / $2,976,798 / €2,825,394," I was very impressed by this combination of competence and courage

I have to say that after watching several of these, you can discern the "hand of the master" from the rest. These guys have great eyes, honed by years of immersion in the art world.

Bendor is a great researcher and this was surely a team effort. Phillip took a big risk and it paid off.

Such a fine episode. Just when you think you have seen your favorite one (Tom Robert's, 'cause I'm Australian) then this one!!!!!! Oh my what nerves of steel, those dedicated restores, worked on by the angels! You can see by the proportions of the face, the expression is so Royal and focused, this can only be a master painter here, the depth, colour choice (the subtle colours, the depth, tonal contrast, all point to the painter who knows his choices. Well done Fiona Philip, and Bendor and restorers, you are brave and trusting. (ps. have you ever thought of using clairvoyants? England has some of the best. That is when you're really stumped :)

Great episode, one of the best. Bendor never ceases to amaze me.

As a collector of works new and old, and after having worked in fine art restoration: I love the little sleuthing techniques that the show presents to the viewer.

One of my goals in life is to have Philip's optimism. I also need someone to believe in me as he did in this painting

I’ve only recently discovered this show and I can’t get enough of it. Fiona is my new muse! Well done!

i am in Vienna,i found the program just few weeks ago.since then i have been enjoying the series.-- specially i was just astonished by this one..it takes amazing courage,how ever how curious they/we are. and the result shows how important what Philip decided with great risk. it is not only about art, but history and culture/religion. yes, as a fact they are together, could not be separated,couldn't them!

Gotta give credit to Phillip. He had a hunch, and it turned out to be right. But we would never know if it wasn't for technology and the amazingly, exact records in the British historical archives. But technology was the star in this episode. The x-ray was the first to reveal an underpainting that supported Phillip's suspicion. Then came the restorers who patiently and immaculately revealed the prized painting underneath. After all the work and money, the search paid off! Great effort by the entire team. Very enjoyable episode....

I've learned more about art viewing this channel. It's given me an appreciation of art I never possessed before.

Once again an exceptional episode! It’s like a Murder Mystery, you’re on edge as you process all the minute clues along the way! Also, taking this chance is equivalent to playing the Stock Market at a high level, the payoff could be incredible or you could lose most or all of it! This is gambling at it BEST!!

What an exciting episode .. plus an amazing program to say the least .. very very well presented and it takes you to all such places where we may never reach by ourselves.. Thanks for uploading such brilliant programs

37:10 - Philip does make a very valid point about the value of a painting that's frozen in the middle of the entire painting process. It would likely be much less valuable than a completed painting, but the educational value is priceless. There are plenty of complete Van Dyck's, but how many have been frozen in time?

A very satisfying story indeed, I resisted the urge to skip to the end to find out because I was enjoying the tension through the various stages. Excellent and a good result!

Also kudos to Vendor and the restorers! Incredible!

Wonderful story and phenomenal painting. If Henrietta really looked like that, she was extraordinarily beautiful.

The face is beautiful, especially the eyes. Philip is a genius to have found it!

I have to say i was nervous too when they first started taking off the paint. Kinda a nail bitting moment. I thought they had destroyed it. But when I saw the finish work I was amazed. He really is very much a professional at this!

Wow!!....What an episode!!.....Deeply moving, and rewarding to watch.....Actually shed a tear!!

I wasn't sure about this episode going in, but it turned out to be one of the best! What a discovery, what a risk!

Dear mightwenotbehappy: Thank you so much for uploading these episodes. Now I *can* be happy!

What a fantastic and educational series! I am addicted. A HUGE thumbs up.

What a beautiful woman Henrietta Maria was, protruding teeth notwithstanding. I do wish someone could paint my face with its "best," most flattering expression.

Vanessa thanks for all of these! This is definitely one of the better ones.

Glad it turned out this way....its a stunning painting the begin with. The subtlety of the crown is amazing. I think the value should be greater because you get to see the painting in progress and the signature brush strokes of a master. Very fitting to say that she went under the knife and to display it for all to see is truly nice of Phillip.

Oh my word! What a beautiful restoration. Magnificent. That face and those eyes and temple. Wow!

I feel there's not enough credit given to the conservation team. Wonderful job.

Brilliant , I never read the comments before watching,i love art so beautiful to peer into the past in this case,love it

Fascinating - Philip who's put his judgement and test and expertise and reputation "on the line" with a substantial investment not just of money, but of his worth as an art dealer . It would be nice to think the conservators could share a small part of any profit. their work is totally amazing.

Wow! Absolutely Superb!! what a fantastic programme! Please make more and could you do a follow up to what happened to this beautiful painting!

What an absolutely marvelous outcome! Kudos Philip!!

Golly these programmes really are magnificent. What an eye. What perspicacity!

Excellent episode!

I've watched a lot of these and I've never seen a fake...so I keep watching and watching. Great show btw, I'm binge-watching.

Just watched this episode, wow, fantastic restoration, very exciting. But I'm puzzled... If this painting was 'unfinished' and therefore not seen, how were there 4 other 'copies' of the same painting - all finished?

Brilliant!!! Simply brilliant. Best episode yet!!

Rebecca and Jo are amazing and patient woman Respect to them

I love this series! Thank you for posting!

No words. What a great Restoration Team. Congratulations! Tennessee, USA

This is one of my favourite Episode Thank you for this ❤

Love van dyck...this one is a fave ! It's a survivor and truly worthy painting!

When i started to watch the episode, i had a feeling that Philip has made a great mistake. But in the end, after revealing the picture underneath, i was just amazed what he had accomplished. Regardless of the result, i believe this is a fantastic bargain.

And this is why I tune in to watch these episodes. Thank you....okay, now my heart has stopped racing after finding out the results. Actually after studying her face, she is rather pretty and the painter even put the hump in her nose. Which to my way of thinking is unusual. What say you?

Marvellous. & what a courage ...

FAKE OR FORTUNE is by any standard the best tv series the BBC has ever produced, It is a credit to all involved. I was never really interested in the art world, however, it's my must-watched Series and if i ever had the funds to purchase a piece of art I would seek out Philip and co to advise me, not to mention Fiona as well.

Love this show, so insightful. Particularly when they use the theme from "SAW" to ramp up the tension.

So satisfying to watch these specials, ... from an old guy in Hawaii. Thanks!

Talk about on tenterhooks… I made my jaws sore clenching. Brought the suspense home proper, this episode!

The best entertainment for me !!!! Thank you so verrrrrrrrrry much.....

Have you guys ever considered that, over the many hours while sitting, the conversation between painter and subject, and the possibility that the head-strong king might want the painter to draw out some information for him, or that the painter may discover something he may take the liberty to hide?

I love this entire story!

You guys are so real and genuine I love you

It's a bit strange to me that so many finished copies would have been made of a portrait that was unfinished. Beautiful portrait though, regardless of who painted it.

best episode. amazing.

Thé work, and imagination that went into this,,, mind boggling

Fantastic show , unbelievable what they discover in each workings .JOLLY good show guys , 😎

The restorer is a wonder.

Enjoyed this ! Interesting art lesson, history and several enjoyable people.🧡🌻

Any one feel like they know something about fine art conservation after watching Julian Baumgartner? Lol

True inspiring document....im speechless ~

Oh, Nicholas Penny! I knew him when he was at the American National Gallery. What a cool guy! He told wonderful stories.

I love British Humor: "Academics; people who aren't giving their opinions for money". 18:42 That's hilarious!!!

The draftsmanship defining our right side of the face is something that should be compared to known works.

OMG His face at 10:00.. He looks at his boy, " like YEAH "!!

What an interesting and beautifully made program.

I'm laughing then cringing at how much Fiona baits Phillip throughout this episode! He is REALLY ticked off with her at the point when she attacks his enthusiasm having learned the portrait is incomplete. His defense of his feelings has me feeling sorry for him and embarrassed for her thoughtlessness. Nobody should be put in that position ESPECIALLY on camera. I think Fiona didn't read the situation very well here. READ THE ROOM.

Fyi this picture was sold in a ( interiors sale ) meaning the ppl who attended this auction were buying the content of a house its completely different to putting this picture in a paintings auction were professional art experts get to examine the painting. In a interiors auction you get anything from paintings to spoons and forks , in this same interiors auction that this picture was sold there were tables , chairs, cabinets even ceramic items among other things . Had this painting been offered in the right auction under old masters then there would probably be a stiffer competition. But when someone is selling the content of their house ( interiors) because of death , divorce, moving they usually dont have the time to sell each item under the right category. So they sell it all together under house sale or interiors.

What a team! Not quite the usual presentators indeed.

Love Fake or Fortune.

Amazing episode! Thank you!!

At 19:41. So it's Wilton House that's a stand-in for Buckingham Palace in "The Crown." I recognize that enormous multi-person painting--it features prominently in a lot of scenes from "The Crown." The funny thing is that I went, "Whoa, that is a huge Anthony Van Dyck" the first time I saw this room in the show. And I was right! It's the presence of Henrietta Maria in the middle of the portrait that immediately made me think, "Yeah, that's Van Dyck."

Mind. Blown.

We was not told the outcome was the painting genuine or just the face was done by vandyke? Is it still hanging in mansion House? I would like to see it after the lockdown.

This and excellent program!

Super interesting, love these!

For the past 23 years I have worked at the Windsor Court hotel in New Orleans Louisiana, USA ! We / the Windsor Court, hotel have the original painting of Queen Henrietta Maria by Anthony Van Dyck ! The painting hangings on the second floor area of the hotel called the Palm Court , with a little research you can see it in the hotel ,in New Orleans Louisiana, USA! 2021 ...........

You know what would make a great episode IMO? I'd like them to take one of these investigations and explain the finances behind it. I'm seeing substantial time of several central people, travel, technology, labor-intensive testing, labor-intensive cleaning, labor-intensive restoration, time-consuming research. Even if the painting proves to be genuine, how do they make money in the final tally?

Phillip really is the consummate salesman, hanging the painting on the wall in the famous building in the end to drum up extra public interest and raise the price. I bet he made a pretty penny when this sold

From the various situation where the Van Dyk work are either completed by other person or finished by other person - somehow In feel the challenges of an artist to put forward his ideal by pouring his all on the work versus the need for the economy

So the expert was going to ponder the face further to determine whether that part of the painting was done by van Dyck himself. Is it significant that the final verdict was not included in this episode?

Superb show...

She is a beautiful woman regardless of what is the value of the picture.

Loving this channel . Gem Hunters was great too.