Provenance

How a Con Man and a Forger Rewrote the History of Modern Art

By: Laney Salisbury, Aly Sujo

Narrated by: Marty Peterson

Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Here is a tautly paced investigation of one the 20th century's most audacious art frauds, which generated hundreds of forgeries - many of them still hanging in prominent museums and private collections today. Provenance is the extraordinary narrative of one of the most far-reaching and elaborate deceptions in art history. Investigative reporters Laney Salisbury and Aly Sujo brilliantly recount the tale of a great con man and unforgettable villain, John Drewe, and his sometimes unwitting accomplices. Chief among those was the struggling artist John Myatt, a vulnerable single father who was manipulated by Drewe into becoming a prolific art forger. Once Myatt had painted the pieces, the real fraud began. Drewe managed to infiltrate the archives of the upper echelons of the British art world in order to fake the provenance of Myatt's forged pieces, hoping to irrevocably legitimize the fakes while effectively rewriting art history.

The story stretches from London to Paris to New York, from tony Manhattan art galleries to the esteemed Giacometti and Dubuffet associations, to the archives at the Tate Gallery. This enormous swindle resulted in the introduction of at least 200 forged paintings, some of them breathtakingly good and most of them selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Many of these fakes are still out in the world, considered genuine and hung prominently in private houses, large galleries, and prestigious museums. And the sacred archives, undermined by John Drewe, remain tainted to this day.

Provenance reads like a well-plotted thriller, filled with unforgettable characters and told at a breakneck pace. But this is most certainly not fiction; Provenance is the meticulously researched and captivating account of one of the greatest cons in the history of art forgery.

©2009 Laney Salisbury (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Salisbury and Sujo (who died in 2008) evoke with flair the plush art world and its penetration by the seductive Drewe as well as the other players in this fascinating art drama." ( Publishers Weekly)

Great book, terrible narration!

Oh how I wish this incredible story was narrated by someone who made it sound like a story, and not a self-help book!
It took me SO long to get through it because the narrator made it sound SO boring, but the writing was very good.

fascinating listen

Not in love with the narration, but the story is very fascinating. I learned a lot and also was kept on the edge of my seat!

art thieving is like art imitating life

who knew that this was just one more fanciful tale of art thieving gone mad. at least someone made good on their life, he who painted the art. we got some feel good in the end for doing the right thing and making right the wrongs that he did

I enjoyed this book immensely

Interesting book, not a great audio production

A very compelling story about fraud, sociopathy, and the innocents affected. However the audio production was not great. The reader sounded like the voice in an automated phone system - I kept waiting for her to say ‘press 9 to hear these options again.’

Narrator Miscast

The narration was totally incongruous to this story of crime, deception and human failures. Her voice and lack of appropriate inflection are more suited to stories for children.

A great learning experience

A fascinating story of real-life adventure and detective work. It included information about the reality of forensic evidence with art works. The characters are unbelievable -- but true.

Interesting & enjoyable

A fascinating book on the art world and human nature. It is amazing the influence one person can have on others.

True fiction

Astonishing yet real events that brought the modern art market up short. Personalities that are astonishing in range and moral certitude come together in London and New York in the 1980's and 90's. A look below the surface of an "industry" built on wealth, club, pretense and the talent and desires of painters and conmen.

Unbelievable, But Somehow Believable

This story is an entertaining narrative of the unbelievable exploits of a consummate con artist. It is a fascinating look at how a rather ordinary man was able to pull one over on some of the most reputable museums and collectors in the art world. He did this on a shoestring budget, with little training, and while pulling in an unimpressive accomplice. You will be left shaking your head in wonder at how he was able to do it.

gelt like she was reading an essay

good story, bad narrator. it felt like she was rushing through high scoop essay style