Con/Artist

The Life and Crimes of the World's Greatest Art Forger

De: Tony Tetro, Giampiero Ambrosi

Narrado por: Richard Ferrone, Tony Tetro, Giampiero Ambrosi

The world’s most renowned art forger reveals the secrets behind his decades of painting like the masters—exposing an art world that is far more corrupt than we ever knew while providing an art history lesson wrapped in sex, drugs, and Caravaggio.

The art world is a much dirtier, nastier business than you might expect. Tony Tetro, one of the most renowned art forgers in history, will make you question every masterpiece you’ve ever seen in a museum, gallery, or private collection. Tetro’s “Rembrandts,” “Caravaggios,” “Miros,” and hundreds of other works now hang on walls around the globe. In 2019, it was revealed that Prince Charles received into his collection a Picasso, Dali, Monet, and Chagall, insuring them for over 200 million pounds, only to later discover that they’re actually “Tetros.” And the kicker? In Tony’s words: “Even if some tycoon finds out his Rembrandt is a fake, what’s he going to do, turn it in? Now his Rembrandt just became motel art. Better to keep quiet and pass it on to the next guy. It’s the way things work for guys like me.” The Prince Charles scandal is the subject of a forthcoming feature documentary with Academy Award nominee Kief Davidson and coauthor Giampiero Ambrosi, in cooperation with Tetro.

Throughout Tetro’s career, his inimitable talent has been coupled with a reckless penchant for drugs, fast cars, and sleeping with other con artists. He was busted in 1989 and spent four years in court and one in prison. His voice—rough, wry, deeply authentic—is nothing like the high society he swanned around in, driving his Lamborghini or Ferrari, hobnobbing with aristocrats by day, and diving into debauchery when the lights went out. He’s a former furniture store clerk who can walk around in Caravaggio’s shoes, become Picasso or Monet, with an encyclopedic understanding of their paint, their canvases, their vision. For years, he hid it all in an unassuming California townhouse with a secret art room behind a full-length mirror. (Press #* on his phone and the mirror pops open.) Pairing up with coauthor Ambrosi, one of the investigative journalists who uncovered the 2019 scandal, Tetro unveils the art world in an epic, alluring, at times unbelievable, but all-true narrative.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Tetro, one of the most prolific art forgers of the 20th century, paints his own life story with flair in this cinematic memoir… Written in a colorful, conversational voice and blending memoir, art history, and true crime, Tetro’s account takes readers on a turbulent, fast-paced, high-stakes roller-coaster ride. This is the art world’s The Wolf of Wall Street.”

—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

**2024 LISTEN LIST: OUTSTANDING AUDIOBOOK NARRATION**

Great audiobook

Wonderful audiobook. Intriguing captivating story. I would rate this book 4.5 stars. I understand the reason for the awards for the audio version of this work, it was great.

Beautiful true story

Its great to hear the whole story been told by the man genius who did it .

Wonderful Read!

I’d never heard of Tony Tetro, but now I’ll never forget him. His story is fascinating and full of interesting cultural references and asides. I learned a lot about art, the painting process, and the well guarded secrets of the art world. Who knew Dali signed and sold blank canvases, never giving a whit for whether he was forged? The narrator had the right inflection and tone for a man of Tony’s background and age - and he voiced Tony’s book faultlessly as written; the casual conversational language, the “tough guy” expressions, and his very personal hopes, dreams and fears. Easy and compelling read for anyone interested in art, crime, or high society.

Slimy character

I'm fascinated by art theft and art forgery so I thought this book would be Interesting. It was, but I was very, there is no other word for it, disgusted by Tetro. He was never sorry or ashamed of what he did , in fact most of the time he seems quite proud of himself and thinks he is a great artist. It seems to me only chance that he didn't end up being a counterfeiter. The narrator did a great job of sounding like a scumbag.

Crime apparently does pay

The narrator did a great job job and I really enjoyed his storytelling. The story itself is basically crime does pay and someone who doesn’t seem to learn anything from his mistakes. There’s no remorse or reflection just a constant stream of bragging about his talent, his cars, the women etc. I didn’t need a story of epic redemption but I expected more than this.