"Faking It" Takes In-depth Look at History of Art Forgery

Tickets on sale Aug. 19 for art talk at museum

Tickets to Faking It – A Look at the History of Art Forgery, an art talk held at Piedmont Arts, will go on sale Friday, August 19.

Led by Donald Schrader, Ph.D., adjunct professor of art history at the University of Mary Washington, the talk will take place on Tuesday, September 20 at 6:30 pm. 

Dr. Schrader will share some of the most interesting and outrageous episodes in the history of collecting art and investigate forgery from ancient Rome to modern day. Recounted are scandals involving artists as famous as Michelangelo and stories of forgers who bested some of the great collectors and museums of modern times. Dr. Schrader will also discuss the motives for art forgery, which can be as simple as making a few bucks.

“The problem of forgery is often more complicated than it might seem at first,” said Dr. Schrader. “For example, an honestly-made copy, made near the same time as an original, might today be mistaken for an artist’s genuine work. On the other hand, when the market becomes high enough, the opportunity to make something intended to deceive becomes irresistible, and even experts can be fooled."

Dr. Schrader received his M.A. and Ph.D. from The University of Virginia, specializing in Italian Renaissance art.

Faking It – A Look at the History of Art Forgery is part of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ Speakers on the Arts series. Including lectures on art and artists, these talks are available to VMFA Statewide Partners, like Piedmont Arts.

Tickets to Faking It are $15 and include heavy hors d’oeuvres and a complimentary bar. Tickets will be available starting Friday at Piedmont Arts, located at 215 Starling Ave., by calling 276.632 3221 or online at PiedmontArts.org.