Julian Crowley
3. Eric Hebborn
Hebborn painting
Eric Hebborn preferred to create his own paintings in the style of the masters rather than copy existing works, which handily meant that he could not be found out by two owners of the same painting having a quick conversation. He was found out when a curator noticed that two paintings by different artists had been executed on the same paper – though he continued to create forgeries for the next 5 years.
Forged Piranesi
In 1984 Hebborn confessed his crime, not out of guilt but instead to denigrate the art world that had rejected his original works; he later published The Art Forger’s Handbook. In 1996 he was found in an alleyway, his head crushed in, although it is unknown if this attack was related to his forgery.
