A plot spanning three international locations to promote suspected forgeries of work by artists together with Rembrandt, Pablo Picasso and Frida Kahlo for enormous sums of cash was busted, police mentioned Friday.
The primary suspect, a 77-year-old German man, allegedly tried to promote 20 pretend work, which additionally included purported works by Flemish previous grasp Peter Paul Rubens, Spanish artist Joan Miro and Italian sculptor Amedeo Modigliani. Police in Bavaria mentioned he was aided by 10 accomplices.
Investigators first grew to become suspicious of the septuagenarian when he tried to promote two supposedly authentic work by Spanish painter Pablo Picasso on the artwork market, CBS News partner BBC News reported. One of many artworks featured a portrait of Dora Maar, a French photographer, painter and poet who was Picasso’s most well-known muse.
Fariha Farooqui / REUTERS 
Police mentioned the person then wished to promote De Staalmeesters, a well-known oil portray by Rembrandt, for 120 million Swiss francs ($150 million) — regardless of the unique portray hanging within the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
The copy, regarded as from the twentieth century, was discovered within the possession of an 84-year-old Swiss girl, who can be beneath investigation.
“It was, as suspected, a replica and never a misplaced masterpiece by Rembrandt van Rijn,” police mentioned after the copy was examined by an artwork skilled, BBC reported.
The work have been being supplied for between 400,000 euros and about 130 million euros ($465,000 and $150 million), police mentioned in an announcement.
Fariha Farooqui / REUTERS 
Police carried out searches final week in a number of cities in southern Germany in addition to in Berlin, a number of elements of Switzerland and Liechtenstein, they mentioned.
The primary suspect and one other German man, aged 74, accused of making ready experiences to substantiate the works’ authenticity, have been arrested when police carried out raids. They’ve since been launched on bail.
“Amongst different issues, all confiscated work can be examined intimately by specialists and appraisers within the coming weeks,” police mentioned, in keeping with the BBC.
