"The scientific techniques described encompass relevant examples of forgery detection and of authentication. The book deals, to name a few, with the Chagall, the Jackson Pollock and the Beltracchi affairs and discusses the Isleworth Mona Lisa as well as La Bella Principessa both thought to be a Leonardo creation. The authentication, amongst others, of two van Gogh paintings, of Vermeer's St Praxedis, of Leonardo's Lady with an Ermine and of Rembrandt's Old Man with a Beard are also described."
Over the last few decades there has been a disconcerting increase in the number of forged paintings. In retaliation, there has been a rise in the use, efficiency and ability of scientific techniques to detect these forgeries. The scientist has waged war on the forger.
The Scientist and the Forger describes the cutting-edge and traditional weapons in this battle, showing how they have been applied to the most notorious cases. The book also provides fresh insights into the psychology of both the viewer and the forger, shedding light on why the discovery that a work of art is a forgery makes us view it so differently and providing a gripping analysis of the myriad motivations behind the most egregious incursions into deception.
The book concludes by discussing the pressing problems faced by the art world today, stressing the importance of using appropriate tools for a valid verdict on authenticity. Written in an approachable and amenable style, the book will make fascinating reading for non-specialists, art historians, curators and scientists alike.
Sample Chapter(s)
Foreword (48 KB)
Chapter 1: Introduction (505 KB)
Contents:
- Establishing the First Link in the Art Chain: Attribution
- Microscopy-Related Techniques
- Scientific Techniques Reliant on Mass Spectrometry
- Some X-ray-based Techniques
- Infrared Reflectography
- Digital Techniques in Art Authentication
- Dendrochronolgy
- The Beguiling Odalisque — Is the Courtroom the Proper Venue for Authentication?
- Three Portraits, Two Women — Can Science Decide?
- Psychology of the Viewer
- Psychology of the Forger
- Reflections on the Turbulent World of Authentication
Readership: General reader, curator, connoisseur, art-historian, psychologist, scientist and financier.
"Most books related to art forgery focus on the techniques of forgers and of 'art forensic' investigators. Jehane Ragai evidently discloses these aspects with fresh insights and with the required sophistication in her excellent book; but previous authors on the subject rarely developed so crisp analyses of the psychological facets of art forgery from the perspective of the forger and more interestingly from the owner of a forged art piece."
Christian Amatore
Member of the French and Chinese Academies of Science
"This timely, splendidly researched and very readable book provides the educated layman with illuminating insights into the many social, technical and psychological factors associated with both the act of forgery and the process of authenticating a genuine original vision."
David L Carpanini
Past President of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers
"(Jehane Ragai) has explored, again on the basis of scientific investigations, the psychology of both those forging and those viewing such works of art. The result is a highly original and informative volume that is not only impossible to put down but also makes one think in a new way about how we view the world around us."
Chris Dobson
John Humphrey Plummer Professor of Chemical and Structural Biology and
Master of St John's College Cambridge
"Dr. Ragai's book is a delight for all those who have an interest in both fine arts and science ... The book provides fascinating examples of forgeries, some which are well known, and some which are less known to the general public."
Krister Holmberg
President of the Royal Society of Arts and Sciences in Gothenberg and
Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
"In an elegant and engaging style, Professor Jehane Ragai provides us with an exceptional exposé of art, science, and business. Her description of the state-of-the-art scientific techniques is pedagogical and overarching, from microscopy to spectroscopy and from mass spectrometry to chromatography. And, the psychology of the viewer and forger is dealt with to highlight the impact of art forgery on the business industry. This book is a must-read for those who are interested in the science and business of art."
Ahmed Zewail
Nobel Laureate in Chemistry (1999)
"… your book has given me enormous pleasure! It really is outstandingly good in all respects: authoritative, a joy to read and attractively produced. I very much like the overall format and the meticulous attention to detail – including the excellent glossary. Of course, it will be of particular value to the art historian, but in addition will appeal to everyone interested in the visual arts. I greatly admire the rare combination of artistic appraisal and scientific discipline."
Professor K S W Sing
Former Chairman of the IUPAC Commission I.6 on Colloid and Surface Chemistry
"Dr Ragai is a clear and engaging writer. She takes a subject that could be a cure for insomnia and makes it interesting and, crucially, easy for laypeople to understand. The book's full of illustrations, including reproductions of the paintings that star in the case studies … There's also a comprehensive glossary, wide-ranging sources noted at the end of each chapter, and an index that's actually useful. It’s also a good pick if you’re into art crime, forensic science, or just seeing scientists doing the damnedest things."
Criminal Element
"The book accomplishes its goal of explaining how science is utilized in the art world in a way that is easily accessible and digestible for both those in the art world and those unaffiliated with the art world. Jehane Ragai’s wealth of experience and knowledge on the subject matter is quite evident throughout the text and I highly recommend this text for anyone interested in learning more about how science operates in the art world."
Taylor Berrena
The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences, UK
