ShortHand: Wolfgang Beltracchi - The Greatest Art Fraud in History?
4/21/202628 min
Tens of millions of dollars flowed onto the canvas from the tip of Wolfgang Beltracchi’s brush. His talent? Unquestionable. His methods? Perfect. His ability to recreate the works of other artists? The greatest there has ever been.
Alongside his wife Helene, Wolfgang Beltrachhi sold an unknown number of paintings, passed off as the work of 20th-century artists, to some of the most respected galleries and collectors in the world. In the process they made millions of dollars, and created a scandal so deep that, even today, nobody wants to touch it.
--
Patreon - Ad-free & Bonus Episodes
YouTube - Full-length Video Episodes
TikTok / Instagram
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSpeaker 00:00
Weight Watchers now offers access to affordable GLP-1s Weight Watchers has everything I need, from weight loss medications to nutrition support and help with my side effects. With our program, our members are losing more weight with expert nutrition and side effect support Weight Watchers prescribing GLP-1 medications, it's been life-changing. Better results, expert support, lose more weight, make it last. Get started for as low as twenty-five dollars at weightwatchers.com. All medications require eligibility and prescription. First month as low as twenty-five dollars for the 12-month Med+ plan. Does not include the cost of GLP-1 medications.
Suruthi Bala· Host0:30
[upbeat music] Hello.
Hannah Maguire· Host0:43
Hello.
Suruthi Bala· Host0:44
Welcome to Shorthand, where we're gonna get crafty.
Hannah Maguire· Host0:47
You like art forges.
Suruthi Bala· Host0:49
I do like an art forge.
Hannah Maguire· Host0:50
Think I'm just not an arter.
Suruthi Bala· Host0:51
Ah.
Hannah Maguire· Host0:52
Actually, I did buy some art the other day.
Suruthi Bala· Host0:53
Oh, did you?
Hannah Maguire· Host0:54
I did, yeah.
Suruthi Bala· Host0:54
Do tell.
Hannah Maguire· Host0:55
I bought, they're called hate plates, and it's a little ceramic plate that's been framed, and it says, "Babes, it's not a hidden gem, it's Hackney."
Suruthi Bala· Host1:03
[laughing] Brilliant. No, I am-- I'm here for a good arty time.
Hannah Maguire· Host1:08
Mm.
Suruthi Bala· Host1:08
But I would also be the first to say, not the first to say, actually, I would be one of many to say, that the art world can be very wanky. In fact, some people would say that the world of high-value art is actually a con. We talked about this at length in our episode where we were talking about how MBS- Mm ... the Crown Prince of, um, Saudi Arabia,