When I read The Art Forger, one of my hang-ups was that the entire plot - a struggling artist forging great works by the masters - seemed to far-fetched to me that I had a hard time coming around to it. It turns out the only thing at all far-fetched was that the artist was a woman: virtually all of the renowned forgers in history are men. (Or maybe it's only the men who get caught.)
In any case, Anthony M. Amore has compiled an authoritative volume on individuals who have made their livelihoods peddling in fraud, whether created by their own hand or the hand of someone in their pay - Chinese immigrants, for example. Amore also looks at art scams more generally, from stolen art that was then hidden away for decades to unscrupulous artist associates who create additional copies beyond what the artist authorized. I found virtually all of the scams - as well as those who perpetrated them - fascinating.
The Art of the Con is a relatively quick and short read, with each chapter focusing on a different forgery, fraud, scam, or outright theft. Amore tells each story succinctly, and his style is fairly colorful and punchy, which contributes to making this a quick read. I could not help comparing it to The Rescue Artist, and between the two I did prefer the latter, if only because Charley Hill is such an outsize character. That said, for a reader looking for a broader understanding of the underbelly of the art world, as opposed to one man's role in it, The Art of the Con is certainly the stronger of the two titles.
Ultimately, this book is a reminder of that if a deal looks too good to be true, it's too good to be true.
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