Police bust plot to sell fake paintings purportedly by Rembrandt, Picasso, Frida Kahlo

A plot spanning three nations to promote suspected forgeries of work by artists together with Rembrandt, Pablo Picasso and Frida Kahlo for enormous sums of cash was busted, police stated Friday.

The principle suspect, a 77-year-old German man, allegedly tried to promote 20 faux work, which additionally included purported works by Flemish outdated grasp Peter Paul Rubens, Spanish artist Joan Miro and Italian sculptor Amedeo Modigliani. Police in Bavaria stated he was aided by 10 accomplices.

Investigators first turned suspicious of the septuagenarian when he tried to promote two supposedly authentic work by Spanish painter Pablo Picasso on the artwork market, CBS Information accomplice BBC Information reported. One of many artworks featured a portrait of Dora Maar, a French photographer, painter and poet who was Picasso’s most well-known muse.

Police stated the person then wished to promote De Staalmeesters, a well-known oil portray by Rembrandt, for 120 million Swiss francs ($150 million) — regardless of the unique portray hanging within the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

The copy, considered from the twentieth century, was discovered within the possession of an 84-year-old Swiss girl, who can be underneath investigation.

“It was, as suspected, a replica and never a misplaced masterpiece by Rembrandt van Rijn,” police stated after the copy was examined by an artwork professional, BBC reported.

The work had been being supplied for between 400,000 euros and about 130 million euros ($465,000 and $150 million), police stated in an announcement.

Police carried out searches final week in a number of cities in southern Germany in addition to in Berlin, a number of elements of Switzerland and Liechtenstein, they stated.

The principle suspect and one other German man, aged 74, accused of making ready studies to substantiate the works’ authenticity, had been arrested when police carried out raids. They’ve since been launched on bail.

“Amongst different issues, all confiscated work will likely be examined intimately by consultants and appraisers within the coming weeks,” police stated, in line with the BBC.