The Conman

The shocking true story of one of the biggest art frauds in history. John Drewe, a charismatic conman posing as a professor and collector, pulled off what Scotland Yard called 'the biggest contemporary art fraud of the 20th century.' Working with an art teacher, he created and sold approximately 200 fake paintings to prestigious galleries and collectors--made with nothing more than DiY emulsion paint and KY jelly. A meticulously researched narrative that reads like a thriller, The Conman exposes how easily the art establishment can be fooled and raises urgent questions about provenance, authentication, and the estimated 40% of artworks in museums that may be fakes. Essential reading for anyone fascinated by crime, art, and the dangerous intersection of greed and expertise.