Fake or Fortune?

Last month, the DIA was featured on the UK-based television show “Fake or Fortune?” in an episode exploring the provenance and identification of a sketch suspected to be of American artist Benjamin West’s The Last Supper, a favorite in the DIA’s collection. Watch to discover if the Ebay find was a fake or worth a fortune, and learn more about this important work from curator Benjamin Colman.

[@PeterPan-qb3tb]

This program is addictive the excitement finding a true art treasure is worth more then the actual price

[@mikedtw]

As a native Detroiter and a painter, this episode had me on the edge of my seat, well done!

[@marycahill546]

How wonderful rescuing a masterpiece from obscurity. I love this show.

[@Myxpix]

A wonderful adventure, a picture that becomes profoundly interesting as we watch, and a great artist as great dramatist. Rich and exciting. Thank you!

[@evenlyanxious]

Why am I crying that it was authenticated? What a fascinating journey this little painting has been on.

[@petert4471]

What a wonderful program! I love the Fake or Fortune series but somehow missed this episode. To see it linked to my own DIA was great!

[@ikersalinas8861]

Z Q3q2

[@130crowd]

Me, too. Very satisfying program.

[@heatherb1587]

my first episode & looking forward to more... the keeping of records is vital too our lives & like many written word, is tragically missing in this world of type on a screen & clicking. well done hosts, the accents, the calm, the thought into words & the intellect made this show a joy to behold...

[@StereoSpace]

Fascinating episode. I love the investigation and history and scientific analysis aspect of these shows. So well done. Thank you.

[@betyfc8853]

IU 7ºkm k ku i XD eses

[@fred993a]

Fantastic work on everyone's account!

[@francoisederocher]

Wonderful program. I would love to see more episodes.

[@SIEBEGORMEN]

Many of them are up on YOU TUBE. Type...... Fake or Fortune,,,BBC

[@francoisederocher]

@@SIEBEGORMEN Yes, I know, but I have seen all the old ones.

[@dennisloren1568]

A wonderful episode and story, from a Detroit area viewer. I must go to the DIA and look at the finished Benjamin West painting.

[@BalanceTechDetroit]

I'll join you Dennis! Let's go!

[@KateColors]

I want to know more about the collector. Does he paint? How did he find his way to collecting? He has a very good eye. And, bravo for spotting this beautiful sketch! I'm curious to know more about Benjamin West now, too. Thank you. This was just fabulous! ❤

[@michelebliss5431]

It was wonderful to see the full sized painting the study was based on. It was so vibrant even via zoom. I'm so glad you were able to share your painting with the world even while the world was shut down during covid.

[@nmg70nmg]

I love this show! Good to see new episodes!

[@ytdavidkwei]

The painting, the story, the discovery is just inspiring. Nice super !

[@TheCombatartist]

This was SO good! Brilliant program.

[@peehandshihtzu]

I mean I don't think of art one way or another but I dig this show, very well done! Held my interest all the way through which is lacking from entertainment these days. It has me appreciating the few paintings I have on my walls, particularly one that had no form until I put a frame on it at which time the oil picture came to life. :)

[@bellyfat3152]

What a fantastic find. I learned so much in such a short amount of time. Thank you

[@mylesgarcia4625]

Another beautiful bravura episode -Covid or no-Covid layer over it. Thanks so much for pursuing it and posting the story!!

[@Blake_.Dryden]

These two are great as a team. To have the privilege of a job like this. What could be better?

[@kamuzu]

I could listen to Fiona and Philip chat forever and ever as the soundtrack of my life.

[@aimeerobinson6217]

I totally agree.. just calming enough but intriguing enough!

[@alsan623]

So happy for Hugh! Well done sir.

[@jmichaelkilpatrick6982]

This is like CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) without the blood and guts and guns. I forwarded a link to this show to my artist/art therapy friend who loved the CSI shows to the extent that she thought about getting involved until she learned that she needed to carry and shoot a gun. To me, it seems that investigating a crime scene is similar to investigating an art scene. Both are exciting, but the art scene presents a less physical danger.

[@rickyku3903]

How I’ve missed this show

[@gyselapacheco1254]

Me too.

[@gordmacdonald9711]

Im jealous . Ive watched them all and wish I could see them over again without the knowledge of results.

[@kristine8338]

This is a good one and so are many many more. Thank you so much for uplifting my world 🗺 💐.

[@HipThrowBarb]

Interesting process - provenance and science working together

[@massimoborghi1987]

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU BOTH! WONDERFOUL PROGRAM!!.........

[@jeanhawken4482]

Love this show

[@georgiesmith106]

So happy for the gentleman.

[@danielartist123]

Just wonderful!

[@jordikore1974]

Realmente una investigación muy minuciosa y bien documentada. Enhorabuena al nuevo propietario y a los dos investigadores

[@darlamcfarland3323]

A beautiful picture after the restoration.

[@julianmetcalfe1070]

great find so happy for him great history he has now for the sketch

[@susanhazard632]

Indian Yellow is one of my favorite colors to work with in my paintings!

[@BecentiComposer]

Oh you must be rich then.

[@kenlieberman4215]

@@BecentiComposer Genuine Indian Yellow hasn't been available for decades. The mango leaves make the cattle sick and so it has been discontinued for humanitarian reasons. Their may be people with old stock, but indian Yellow HUE, is a popular and inexpensive color. Likely this is what OP was referring to.

[@monkeytennis8861]

@@kenlieberman4215 or a liar

[@deemiller8463]

This was absolutely fascinating!

[@WILLIAMCHANEL]

What was the “family scandal” that prompted the Nash Family to “destroy all of [John Nash’s] personal records after his death” in 1835? I can see online that Nash died with a great deal of debt; but does that qualify as a “family scandal,” such that his survivors would be prompted to destroy his papers?

[@tombombadill22]

Wonderful story!

[@phyllispatterson7352]

Very good episode and what a find.

[@richardparker7121]

This is a great show! Thanks for helping them in their investigation.

[@stevenedwards4470]

Good one. Hadn't seen this one.

[@jamiehancock6296]

Amazing episode!

[@esthergagne5195]

I can definitely read "B West" at the bottom of the restored painting at 52:51, and possibly 178..., once you know West's signature, it is quite visible, and written higher than the superimposed signature.

[@phredmadsen-vallee8375]

Wonderful program.

[@luisv7117]

I love Fake or Fortune I had learn so so much about art thank you for sharing

[@debbiew.7716]

I love this show! Fabulous find! I think I would have to give some sort of percentage to the poor people who sold it for so little. Otherwise I would feel guilty. Thanks just me:)

[@s-lo5291]

I’m so happy for Hugh!

[@yongcastillo1993]

Fiona herself is a wonderful work of art. I’ve little doubt that she could quite readily brighten the darkest of days.

[@johntate5050]

I suspect she's wonderfully hairy down below.

[@warfivevy0ne454]

Masterpiece Presentation

[@susannortham11.11]

Thank goodness the DIA still exists amidst the post-heyday, urban decay of near apocalyptic Detroit.

[@Shavon1107]

Great show!

[@vmcurry1]

Colnagi archives destroyed? Was thus because he was involved in laundering at least one piece, first stolen from the altar of the Monastery in Amelia, placed on the Portioncola in Assisi and then smuggled out by the Berensons in a false bottom suitcase under some French dolls to be laundered by Colnagi auction to Isabella Stewart Gardner. Another a Raphael Deposition from the Cross also came to Gardner through colnaghi. Is it any wonder archives destroyed?,

[@liamnevilleviolist1809]

0:36 is the 'expert' on camera referring to the artist Lucian Freud? Not sure. I'm not in the painting's world, but fine violins and bows. Thanks in advance if one can shed light on this - I assume it's from a previous episode...

[@Aqua-ii2pb]

Well presented

[@kathryn1050]

Well spotted Huw!! Brilliant investigation

[@maryloumawson6006]

Why do I feel like Dr. Lori Verderame could have solved this in about 10 minutes by looking at the back, and frame?

[@robert-brydson-1]

my fave show

[@xxxxxx-zy9lu]

Would have been nice if they'd said why the farmer thought it was a west.

[@CanChikMay]

Youre also including the frame size when u measured the picture! Therefore up to about an inch off!

[@CoreyChambersLA]

Brilliant as they say

[@r.c.miller6161]

Phillip & Fiona hung the finders out to dry. I hope the girl never settles with the greedy family who let the painting end up at the dump.

[@lliamjurdom9505]

Oh how delightful ... nice provenance ...

[@loisfolk5492]

The person who sold it on eBay is probably sad right now 😢

[@katharper655]

I am particularly drawn by the guilty, hag-ridden figure of Judas Iscariot. He FEELS "damned for all time" as he says in "Jesus Christ Superstar". Very moving.

[@PaulaakaPaben]

Benjamin West was A long distance cousin of my Husband! I believe he is buried At Windsor Castle, as he was A favorite of George the 3rd!

[@glynnaKB57]

I am surprised an artist would sign/date a sketch- but I know zilch about artworks!

[@alexhm27]

My favorite show

[@ebrozo]

When they got to Indian yellow and mummy brown all I could think was, "people are weird."

[@MichaelSmith-xx6hr]

I dont know a lick about art but this was pretty well done. Could be a movie with Tom Hanks. Or is there one like that already

[@toddaulner5393]

Love this program but as an artist, it does make us feel bad when you say a fake it worthless. Untrue.

[@5cloudwalker]

This is what happens when you don’t sign your artwork

[@mikerosseau]

I don't know what the problem with the signature is. It clearly says B West 1787, just not where you overlaid it.

[@gibbersking6575]

Is that a date (year) to the right of the signature? I'm seeing a 1, a 7, an 8 perhaps and lastly a 7? Those typical, elongated 7s of the 18th century?

[@theeaselrider4032]

Why is there a clock running in the top-right corner? It's more than a bit annoying. Otherwise though, I've always enjoyed this show.

[@kyleanuar9090]

Didn't notice that until your comment.

[@stevenmccart5455]

I try not to buy anything on line. I won't buy clothes unless I can try them on and check for defaults. Art or anything like that I can't say enough about what a bad idea it is. I ordered something many years ago and didn't recieve it. Plus it's too easy to fall victim to theft or worse identity theft. Fortunately twenty dollars wasn't enough to lose sleep over and ,I just learned to not trust a random seller on line.

[@BufferlowBill]

Amen and Amen - well said

[@Fredmayve]

A lovely little picture and good detective work. Sadly over restored and brightened in my view, and disrupted by new work, losing some of its intensity. I would not have let that man who thought he could repaint Judas's face anywhere near it. But at least we have film of how it looked before.

[@jawadelectroplatingandartg4803]

hello sir or very very good work ❤❤❤❤❤

[@franciscouderq1100]

How much did he pay for the restoration ?

[@englishmaninfrance661]

Loving Eviva

[@richardhutchison3123]

$66,000.00 picture for $50 pounds! Not bad! Not bad at all!

[@debfryer2437]

See BLINK by Malcolm Gladwell

[@chuckschillingvideos]

This isn't a sketch. It's a painting.

[@gavinreid5387]

Sketch is a preliminary study, as such colour can be used. A sketch can involve the use of paint. Turner even used oil paint in his small sketch books in preparation for much larger studio paintings.

[@JavierBonillaC]

What? “Are you prepared to pay for the restoration? .- Yes, yes”. Again, what? What human doesn’t ask “how much?”. Then again, they have an hour of program and they have to edit.

[@randolphfriend8260]

💙

[@tweet2999]

###SPOILERS*** Wonderful outcome, Well do Hue!

[@downhillphilm.6682]

sooo an artist is, oh let's say taking a walk, and notices a cow peeing and it immediately spirngs to mind..."humm, that would make a great yellow for my painting....".

[@blackthai5023]

feel Hugh deserves much more credit to have beeen able to see any lofty potential at all in thiswreckof pictur,wa hat did he see to even hint at West or was it puregut feeling,intuition a 50quid ebaychancebid,strannge

[@ivancruz5228]

salvator mundi=fake! no HALO, no beard!, straight COLLAR!

[@RubenGMadrigalJr--]

Our lady of the ship wreck Los Angeles county ocean blvd Long Beach ca.

[@daveg686]

👍

[@allenschmitz9644]

Grease the wheels of provenance.

[@ermirzaerekose3824]

she is so cute :-D

[@evansquilt]

I hope no one ever tells Fiona the story behind the 18th century dye "caca dauphin."

[@oldbrasso808]

Like the series. It's so fake but it's made a fortune.

[@RubenGMadrigalJr--]

To eat Nash naush

[@GeorgeWTush]

The BBC shoul d have helped Hugh a bit with a stylist. He only seems to own blue clothing. So interesting for a man who collects art.

[@Timeisirrelevant]

He's being a real person.

[@philipcallicoat3147]

50 British pounds to 50 thousand!!!😎

[@jonathanlarson6684]

Is that lady short or is Fiona 6'5"?

[@ghostmantagshome-er6pb]

The Optical Crypo Club.

[@CallieMasters5000]

From £50 to £50,000 and you get to hang with Fiona... come on, mate, show some excitement!!

[@asifmuniruniverse7732]

Is that not true ?