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I HAVE been reading L’Affaire Ruffini (Editions Libretto, 2021) by the journalist Vincent Noce, documenting his investigation into a number of fake Old Masters that have been unmasked since 2016, with suspicions going back to 1985. Many curators, collectors, connaisseurs, restorers, scientists, dealers and auctioneers, well-respected as well as less reputable figures, have been fooled or swindled across the international art market. A few have had their reputations enhanced, others have stayed silent. There have been court cases involving many millions of pounds.
Last month, Lino Frongia, an Italian artist, was arrested for the second time, on suspicion of forging