Holy Hoaxes: A Beautiful Deception

The Voelkle Collection is a fascinating book that tells the story of the building of William M. Voelkles collection of fakes and forgeries of manuscript illumination. It includes thorough essays and beautiful illustrations, and sheds light on the nature and detection of forgery of manuscript illumination. The book also includes a scientific analysis of pigments, the identification of sources, and the scrutiny of the materials. The collection is the only comprehensive one of fakes and forgeries of manuscript painting in private hands and is detailed in the foreword.

Format: Hardback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 15 March 2023
Publisher: Les Enluminures, Limited

The captivating book delves into the creation of William M. Voelkles remarkable collection of fakes and forgeries of manuscript illumination. Through extensive essays and exquisite illustrations, Voekle presents a detailed account of nearly seventy deceptive works. The book takes readers on a journey that sheds light on the nature and detection of forgery in manuscript illumination. An intriguing introduction by Christopher de Hamel poses thought-provoking questions that delve into the very essence of authenticity and our enduring fascination with forgery. Scientific analysis of pigments, identification of sources, and scrutiny of materials are integral to the unfolding story of the collection. An illustrated catalogue showcases the extensive range of fakes and forgeries, featuring not only Western European miniatures by renowned artists such as Ernesto Sprega, Caleb William Wing, and Germano Prosdocimi, but also captivating examples from the Christian East, Ethiopia, Mexico, and Persia and India. Published here in its entirety for the first time, the Voelkle Collection stands as the sole comprehensive collection of fakes and forgeries of manuscript painting in private hands. Voelkles fifty-year career at the Morgan Library & Museum was intricately intertwined with the development of the collection, which is extensively explored in the foreword. The personal narrative reveals Voekle as both a collector and a scholar, driven by a passion for collecting and a scholarly pursuit of understanding the intricacies of forgery. Included in the book is a comprehensive list of William M. Voelkles publications, further highlighting his contributions to the field of manuscript illumination.

Weight: 804g
Dimension: 168 x 229 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9782956702474