The Art Forger's Handbook

Rating:
Summary: a good introduction to art forgery for fun and profit....
Review: Hebborn certainlly knew his stuff and succeeded in selling many of his "creations" through dealers such as London's Colnagi. If you are interested in the nuts and bolts of forging old masters, this will certainly get you started. Other good, though more technical, books to look at are Gettens and Stout (and don't overlook the bibliography) and the immortal Max Doerner. There are some errors in the book, e.g., bistre and orpiment are easily found, if you know where to look. Still, Hebborn writes with rare wit and, quite often, with more humor than you will find in most deliberately humorous books. Well, are ya gonna do it? Assuming, of course, you have the skill.... That's up to you and if this book has a weak spot, it is in its cloying self-justification for doing this.

Rating:
Summary: The book with a catchy title
Review: The art forgers handbook is an intriguing confession. While having reference worthy material I would advise against
believing the book is the bible on the subject. Forgery involves a talent for broad and bizarre logic that involves not
only the crafting but also a mental empathy inside the universal mind of the collector, the dealer, and the expert.

As far as I'm concerned there are more valuable resources how ever there can be no complete source that one book
could provide and Hebborns books makes a decent edition. The real success in a forgers ability would be in there
logic and this is something that Hebborn can't teach. Hebborn never the less seems to be a master and his
confessions add light on how one might tackle the subject.

I do hold the book in high regards but in fact I have learned very little from it. A study in the history of artist
materials and techniques, conservation, authentication, and a study of how these have been flawed, artistic
competence in craft, creative logic, and ones own trial and error will be the only all inclusive bible into successful
forgeries.

The book has a catchy title, is informative and intriguing just don't be misled that the book will give you the ability
to turn Degas and Rembrants. In my opinion there is only an illusion when it comes to success in forgery. The real
success of the book is a demonstration that history is flawed and art; mystical and intriguing art is indeed a
commodity illusion and nobody in the field is safe if fakes are indeed fakes in what ever context a fake is regarded
in. If you are interested in the subject read the book it may after all have cost the artist his own life. Oh yeah, look for
my own book in two-three years!

Good luck