Italian Forgers: The Art Market and the Weight of the Past in Modern Italy

Italian Forgers explores the major forgery scandals that shifted the Italian art market in response to the constant demand for Italian objects. It connects the debates and discussions about three well-known Italian forgers to investigate the mechanics of the market from unification through the fascist era. Carol Helstosky examines foreign accounts of transactions and Italian writings about the art market to illustrate how the market was an undeniably modern industry, on par with tourism in terms of its contribution to the Italian economy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 258 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2024
Publisher: Cornell University Press

Italian Forgers takes an unconventional approach to the captivating subject of art forgery, delving not solely into the realm of art forgery but also exploring the significant forgery scandals that reshaped the Italian art market in response to the unwavering and often intense demand for Italian objects. By examining the power dynamics that both triggered forgery scandals and shaped Italian cultural identities, this book establishes a connection between the debates and discussions surrounding three renowned Italian forgers: Giovanni Bastianini, Icilio Joni, and Alceo Dossena. This serves as a foundation for investigating the mechanics of the Italian art market, spanning from the unification period to the fascist era. Carol Helstosky delves into foreign accounts of transactions and Italian writings on the art market, shedding light on how the Italian art and antiquities market emerged as an undeniably modern industry, on par with tourism in terms of its contribution to the Italian economy and to understanding Italian identity. These accounts also unveil the intricate ways in which dealers, artists, intermediaries, guides, and restorers collaborated to not only meet the overwhelming demand for Italian products but also to develop highly sophisticated business practices to ensure financial stability and respond to fluctuations in demand, albeit sometimes consciously.

Italian Forgers weaves a compelling narrative that explores the history of Italian identity, forgery, and the significance of the past. Through her work, Helstosky provides a historical perspective to the study of art forgery and art fraud, unveiling how historical circumstances and structural imbalances of cultural power shaped the market for art and antiquities and amplified incidents of art deception and forgery scandals.

Weight: 907g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501774577