Rome: 8 fake works seized, some attributed to Modigliani and Schifano

Military officers from the Forgery and Contemporary Art Section of the Carabinieri Tutela Patrimonio Culturale (TPC) Operational Department in Rome seized eight fake works of art that were about to be put up for sale. Coordinated by the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office, the investigation began with the complaint of a Roman collector who claimed to have entrusted works and other goods on consignment for sale, to a person who presented himself as a television host, which, instead, were being held beyond the terms established by the mandate.
Initial investigations by carabinieri revealed that other complaints in various parts of Italy accused the same individual of using the same modus operandi.

The complainant was, therefore, the subject of a house search, from which fake works were discovered, two of which were attributed to artists such as Amedeo Modigliani (we are talking about a drawing on paper 41.5 x 35 cm depicting “Sitting Woman” with the signature of the Leghorn artist that, if it had been marketed as authentic and, therefore, with its market value, would have earned 1.000,000.00 euros to the seller) and Mario Schifano (in this case an acrylic painting on canvas 39.5 x 40 cm depicting “Tree of Orange Color”).

Three works, on the other hand, lacked certification attesting to their authentication and/or provenance and, therefore, were immediately identified as fake. The sudden intervention of the Forgery and Contemporary Art Section thus prevented the placing of fake works on the market, with the consequent serious economic damage to any bona fide buyers, and to ensure the return of the misappropriated works to their rightful owners.

Rome: 8 fake works seized, some attributed to Modigliani and Schifano

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