Jacques van Meegeren, also known as Han van Meegeren, was a Dutch painter and forger born on October 10, 1889, in Deventer, the Netherlands, and died on December 30, 1947, in Amsterdam. He gained international attention and infamy as one of the most successful art forgers in history.
Van Meegeren is predominantly recognized for his forgery of paintings by the Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer. His methods involved creating new artworks in the style of Vermeer and then artificially aging them to pass them off as authentic masterpieces. He skillfully imitated Vermeer's signature techniques, utilizing the same pigment mixtures, brushstrokes, and even replicating cracks that emerged over time.
His most famous forgery was that of "The Supper at Emmaus," which he sold to the renowned art collector and Nazi official, Hermann Göring, during World War II. However, the painting ultimately played a pivotal role in his downfall as it was discovered after the war that Göring had purchased looted art.
Van Meegeren was arrested and charged with treason, as his forgeries were regarded as collaboration with the Nazis. However, during his trial, he claimed that the works he created were not genuine Vermeers but his own fabricated paintings. He was subsequently acquitted on the basis that he had technically committed forgery, not treason.
Jacques van Meegeren's forgeries had a profound impact on the art world, leading to increased scrutiny and authentication measures. His story remains an intriguing testament to the skill and audacity of deception within the realm of art forgery.
