38629e54-c07f-4bd1-8659-b1da321b6e50

Authors and Background

• Laney Salisbury

  • Graduate of Colombia School of Journalism.

  • Co-authored books: The Cruelest Mile & Provenance.

  • Experience with Reuters and the Associated Press.

• Aly Sujo

  • Investigative reporter with a background in New York Daily News, the Associated Press, and Reuters.

Key Plot Points

• Initial Meeting

  • John Drewe recruits artist John Myatt, recognizing his talent and desperation.

• Forgery Process

  • Drewe forges documents for each of Myatt’s fake paintings.

  • Gains trust of Bill McAlister, securing access to the Institute of Contemporary Arts Archive to insert forged documents.

• Struggles with Authenticity

  • Myatt faces difficulties in creating a convincing Giacometti replica, resulting in a piece called "Standing Nude."

  • Drewe persuades Myatt to submit the artwork despite hesitations.

• Investigation Begins

  • Mary Lisa Palmer of the Giacometti Organization detects forgeries, leading her to investigate.

  • Communicates with Jennifer Booth, a Tate archivist, who shares suspicion of Drewe's involvement.

• Personal Conflicts

  • Drewe's marriage with Batsheva Goudsmid deteriorates; manipulates those around to portray her as unstable.

  • Drewe's violent behavior escalates towards Myatt, causing tensions in their partnership.

• Legal Consequences

  • Goudsmid provides Richard Higgs with Drewe's briefcase containing incriminating evidence.

  • Detective Jonatha Searle becomes involved, leading to Myatt’s detention and confession; he agrees to assist in identifying fakes.

  • Palmer and Tate hand over collective evidence to detectives, resulting in Drewe's arrest and conviction alongside co-conspirators.

  • Myatt receives a lighter sentence due to mitigating circumstances.

John Drewe's Background

• Originally born as John Cockett, changed his name and claimed a fictional academic background.

• Dropped out of high school, disappearing for seven years before posing as an academic.

• Fabricated connections with notable figures to gain trust and manipulate others, including fabricating stories to deceive his wife regarding art gifts.

John Myatt's Artistic Journey

• Myatt showcased exceptional talent in arts; established a studio post-college but struggled financially.

• Transitioned career from music to teaching until personal crises led him to create genuine fakes, initially honest about his forgeries.

• Financial struggles persist until meeting Drewe, who introduces a criminal element to his art endeavors.

Art Market Context

• The late 1980s and early 1990s marked a booming art market.

  • Investment increases, particularly from organizations like British Rail Pension Fund.

  • Japanese art purchases surge due to yen valuation post-1985 Plaza Agreement.

  • Tax law changes in the U.S. spur art sales.

Reader Reflections

• The book Provenance offers an intriguing perspective on art authentication fragility.

• The ease with which forgeries were sold raises concerns about provenance integrity.

• Approximately 120 forgeries are believed to still circulate, complicating authenticity verification.

• Drewe's ability to infiltrate reputable art institutions is surprisingly shocking.

• Myatt's lesser sentence is viewed as appropriate given his circumstances, highlighting a personal transformation where he redirected a negative past into positive outcomes.