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suedihfed, January 1, 2013 (view all comments by suedihfed)
I thought this book was absolutely fascinating. Perenyi is incredible - even though he's a forger, I think he should get some credit for being an exceptionally talented artist as well. Being able to fool experts is no easy task (it's their job!!), and Perenyi kept it up for decades, which is quite a feat. On top of the wild stories, I loved how many photos and illustrations the book includes; they really help to showcase Perenyi's remarkable talent. Hearing the whole story from Perenyi himself made the whole thing feel very real and personal, and I have never read anything else like it.
He is also a Jersey boy and I grew up in the same decade and same area as he did. I was familiar with all the locations he wrote about which made the story come alive. I couldn't put this book down. If he had put as much energy into forging great masterpieces, he could have been a great artist in his own right.
nrlymrtl, November 13, 2012 (view all comments by nrlymrtl)
One of the most interesting parts of this book was the detailed information on the techniques of producing aging effects, fly spots, and staining or dirty varnish. It was fascinating to ride along as the author tried this or that to mimic certain traits of various artists. His appreciation of the various art styles comes through clearly. Yet I find it contradictory to then cheapen the art by passing recreations off as the original work. Still, my own moral view point did not lessen my enjoyment of this book.
"Publishers Weekly Review"
by Publishers Weekly,
"Painter, draft dodger, and art world huckster Perenyi offers a facile account of the glory days of his 30-year career as an art forger. His story begins in 'the Castle,' a dilapidated New Jersey estate inhabited by two beatnik artists who take in the younger Perenyi as one of their own. With his new mentors, Perenyi pays frequent visits to Max's Kansas City and rubs shoulders with Warhol acolytes, inspiring him to try his hand at painting. Soon enough, he's replicating 16th-century Flemish portraits, which he sells to antique dealers and galleries. As his exploits grow in value and range, the threat of being caught rises and the FBI draws near. In theory, there's enough to this story to pique a discerning reader's interest; on the page, however, Perenyi's tale unravels with vacuous prose and a lack of self-awareness or genuine insight; he offers little more than rote, blow-by-blow accounts of his scandals. Most interesting is Perenyi's description of aging and distressing his forgeries so that they might appear authentically weathered. Unfortunately, he never presents the reader with an authentic depiction of the mind of a pathological fraud. Illus. Agent: Don Fehr, Trident Media Group." Publishers Weekly Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
"Synopsis"
by Norton,
It is said that the greatest art forger in the world is the one who has never been caught—the astonishing story of America’s most accomplished art forger.
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