FAKE OR FORTUNE: 9X04 BENJAMIN WEST

The team head to the beautiful island of Anglesey at the northernmost tip of Wales, where Huw Lewis has a sheep farm. Huw
frequently spends his evenings scouring the internet for art bargains and was trawling through eBay when he came across a small, unattributed oil sketch of Jesus and the apostles at the Last Supper. He immediately sensed it was something special and was amazed when nobody bid against him. He secured it for just £50. He later learned that it had been in the seller’s family for decades, and they had assumed it to be practically worthless.
After doing some online research of his own, Huw thought he might have identified the artist as Benjamin West. Born in Pennsylvania, West left America in his twenties and settled in Britain, where he quickly found fame and fortune. By the late eighteenth century, he was one of the most celebrated artists of the day, renowned for the bold storytelling of his history paintings. Perhaps his biggest fan was King George III, who made West his official history painter. Together they aimed to bring about a magnificent new era in British art.
Huw’s picture is an unusual one, as it is a small canvas that appears to be semi-finished. It’s partly painted in oils, but also visible are bold, black lines delineating the figures. After examining the picture closely, Philip is intrigued by it but is also worried by its condition. It appears to have been scrubbed in places, and layers of dirt have built up over the years. There’s also no signature, which, given West was very good at promoting himself and his work, is concerning. But Fiona discovers that Benjamin West was commissioned by King George III to paint two paintings of the Last Supper for chapels at Windsor Castle, and at the Royal Academy of Arts she discovers that one of the preparatory sketches for those paintings hasn’t been seen for a century. Could it be that Huw’s internet bargain is the missing West sketch?

[@jonkusa]

Sigh... I could watch this show all day. Once again, thank you for posting this so those of us outside the UK can see it. I understand this is the last episode in Series 9. I guess we'll have to wait to see if there's a Series 10 and when it might air in the future.

[@gobbledygookik]

What?! This is the last? Nooooo!!!

[@jonkusa]

@@gobbledygookik I believe Fake or Fortune only produces 4 episodes per Series, so this should be the fourth and last one for Series 9. I'm not sure how often Series are recorded in the UK. In the U.S. they are called Seasons and there are usually two per year.

[@falldog9]

One of the best shows on the tele.

[@simonbrown9695]

bes show on tv

[@SpaceCattttt]

@@jonkusa There are, indeed, only 4 episodes per series. And per year. And they don't always produce more every year, either. So if all goes well, we could potentially get 4 more episodes in August, next year. But there's no guarantee.

[@andreaandrea6716]

What a charming man Huw is! I'm so very pleased for him. Farmers work like demons. It is a hard life! So it is immensely satisfying to have this outcome!

[@ronniealex5523]

So true, really enjoyed this

[@oscresson]

​Yes! Huw enjoyed visiting alien worlds, soaking it up. "It's just home!" (48:00) Bravo to all the Huws with their ewes and their eyes for art!

[@audreyhiller]

These two are like the fairy god parents of unauthenticated art

[@MossyMozart]

@Don't forget Dr Bendor Grovenor's essential contributions. (Does anybody have a cooler name?)

[@pilsplease7561]

@@MossyMozart English names are awesome cause they are usually cool and unique.

[@debbiegoodwin6316]

So delighted for this man, was really hoping that this time someone did have a masterpiece!

[@sasantinordewati111]

Happy for Huw. I think that number from Christie in the back of the painting definitely helped sealed the conclusion. Thank you so much for posting it :)

[@wieldwords]

How cool to see a dear childhood friend in Beth Fulton (the conservator at 41:28) on such a wonderful program. We don’t get this here in the States, so thank you so, so much for uploading. And brava, Beth!

[@andreaandrea6716]

Wonderful!

[@MossyMozart]

@wieldwords - Tell her we all said, "Hello!".

[@heatherg9423]

Benjamin West is one of my ancestors. His paintings are gorgeous; I love his work!

[@nobletalent]

Hugh is such a fun guest, I wish him the best of luck in his search for more treasures on the internet.

[@wildandbarefoot]

Hughie Lewis and the Ewes. ..

[@IntrepidFraidyCat]

LOL!😆 The 80s were the best!

[@terryt.1643]

I have learned so much about art from your program, you have made my life richer for it. Thank you. Seeing the free flowing work underneath is amazing. Love these stories.

[@mariapilarme]

Benjamin West was a subject of my final . At the UCDAVIS art history major. Love your channel. Thanks to you both!

[@CallieMasters5000]

In this case, I bet whoever scrubbed off too much paint on the bottom half of the painting also scrubbed off the signature and date. They didn't really talk about who would have done this but maybe somebody tried to over clean it during the long gap between the sale in the 1880s and today. Either a time or person with little skill in art restoration.

[@dalee.taylor2283]

Just came across this program - excellent production - great direction, production values and general investigative pacing. Thank you! I will be in touch with the BBC to submit pics and information of one of my olde paintings ..... one never knows - for certain...

[@user-ln2jl6cm9z]

This is a very exciting episode! Thank you for the upload!

[@PS-vm3we]

This is the most uplifting thing I have watched in a long while. Thank you so much. And congratulations Huw. So well deserved. Your care for art and sheep is a gift to humanity.

[@dianer.9461]

Thank you so much. I have been trying to watch all the episodes of this wonderful series. Alas, some are missing, especially series 8. One I watched was very chopped up with multiple repeats and another I only started was reversed/flopped left to right. Yours by far are the best quality.

[@mightwenotbehappy]

Series 8 Is on my dailymotion account click on my profile go into community and link is there 💫

[@jhunifiedwithlove9750]

It’s a very beautiful and historical painting so I thought it’s gonna be at least 6 figures but from 50 to 50K is incredible.

[@maggieekane7845]

This such a great TV series up to the usual masterful British production efforts. I do hope it continues. To have a series like this doing all the detective work of provenance and historical aspects of great fine artists is wonderful. I appreciate all the work that goes into this series. I learn so much about all aspects of painting, techniques, pigments, style, skill, value and appreciation. Thank you for sharing this on Utube.

[@mightwenotbehappy]

New series coming soon

[@philmorton4590]

Well I'm glad hugh found this painting, if not for him this historical treasure could have been to time.

[@ek7593]

How very beautiful! Thank you very much for making my evenings enjoyable!!

[@amherst88]

Thanks very, very much for posting ❤️ -- so encouraging to see one where the 'experts' haven't expounded their questionable judgments . . .

[@girlnorthof60]

🕵️‍♀️🕵️‍♂️ I DO love a great detective story! Thank you ever so much for making this series available for us all to enjoy. 💖 cheers!

[@LiveInSydney]

Yes I’ve been watching all your uploads and wanted to say thanks. My home in Sydney is an art gallery and I’m loving this series! Bernie

[@favouritemoon4133]

One of my favourite episodes. I love a Good Luck story.

[@CallieMasters5000]

So if you know what old auction house labels and numbers look like, and you can get copies of their records to be accurate, you could label a painting to appear to have good provenance.

[@Arrigo1971]

There are people already doing that. They are called forgers.

[@rediscoverwithsharona]

Thank you for posting. Why haven't you uploaded series 8.

[@SaraGlendinning-artist]

Thank you for this! I first saw the show on Netflix and was thrilled to find the rest of the series here. Just love this show!!!

[@QED_]

Thanks again (!)

[@ivorytower99]

Someone else is uploading the episodes, but their upload was choppy and shoddy. So grateful for this new upload|!~ *Thank you, mightwenotbehappy|!~*

[@xikimunki735]

What a formidable team philip, aveva, fiona and bendor make....

[@loganjohnson3589]

I wonder if Huw still own's the painting and if so where did he hang it pride of place in the house or in the sheep shed ?

[@justinwhite6787]

Well I'm Glowing after that :) Another Outstanding episode!!!!

[@roslewis9923]

A very exciting story of forensic art with a successful outcome for all involved, thank you!

[@CallieMasters5000]

Hugh needs to start an art investment syndicate! He knows what he's doing with both sheep AND art!

[@dianayount2122]

i have an old, old tube of winsor newton indian yellow.

[@soniatriana9091]

I echo everyone else’s wonderful accolades on how wonderful this BBC Series is! What a fabulous way to enjoy & learn so much history in such a short period of time! I’m also fascinated by all the experts in this series! It would be so interesting to have them interviewed, to tell us their educational & work background & what got them so interested in this specialized field, or did it just evolve over time?

[@peehandshihtzu]

For real, too me she is the David Attenborough of the art/antique world. Could listen to her presentations all day, they are so well done. Cheers to a new upcoming season!!!

[@tommaheady5230]

She could ref a match and get away with it. She is beautiful

[@VenusDeMilitant]

Thank you for posting this!!!!

[@martijndegraaffvangemert8062]

Hi! thank you thank you thank you for uploading! im soooooo happy im dutch we dont have it here on tv so thank you thank you!! big hug !

[@bruh_hahaha]

I was on the edge of my seat til the very end! 😎

[@AlessioFangano]

This is the style of painting I love the most. You can follow the whole artist's journey on it, compositional ideas, drapery construction, architecture, light and color... Something to keep you occupied for hours while admiring it!

[@anissaapolinario]

Thank you for the uploads! ❤

[@NyanyiC]

I thought the show paid for the restoration 🙄

[@SpaceCattttt]

Philip: "I think you can add three zeroes to that. This is a fifty thousand pound sketch." Huw: Fucking yes!! I'm loaded!! Thank you so much for your hard work. I wish I could repay your kindness." Philip: "You will. Fifty thousand quid, please."

[@Otto72ish]

All those covid restrictions already seem so daft.

[@zanderary]

My wife and I liked the mystery painting better than the authenticated West paintings.

[@nicklizardo313]

What a story that West original has...just have to admire all the work and research that went in to prove it. Thank u for your uploads.

[@christianfrommuslim]

Both final painting and the sketch evaluated here are amazing and evocative. I think this is the best Last Supper painting I have seen anywhere. I would love a copy! I've been in Detroit many times but did not know that the painting was there. Next chance I'm off to visit it! Religious art is currently undervalued and thus open to good deals on the art market.

[@jdawgchappellicious]

At 52:53 I definitely see the signature, all five letters and not four letters as Philip says B West The first mark is the upstroke that starts the B Then you can see the down-up-down that is most of the W (looks like a lower case n) then a gap after the W, then the e and s joined (looks like a lower case u) then a gap and the strong downstroke of the t plus four numbers -- so yes, signed AND dated, with the gaps between letters just as seen in West's signature at 53:20 At 53:20 when they overlay another West signature over this one, they place it to the left of the one on the painting Not sure how they missed seeing this!!!

[@pNo415]

Exciting episode!

[@ho2cultcha]

Wonderful! i love this show!

[@heathermtaylor7683]

Sheer delight ❤️

[@billyb37]

Cant get enough of this programe !!!!

[@circleofice]

Thx for good quality uploads.

[@barbarajones5961]

This show has captured my interest as well as my heart. I'm 72yrs and studied Art History in High School. I'm still loving Art History now. What a thrill with every show. Thank you.

[@sesvaoffice8331]

the ebay sketch is better than the benjamin west last supper painting. whether or not its a 'benjamin west' what a great find on line.

[@fabiodeoliveiraribeiro1602]

Is it all about art or about money? Is there really a difference between these two things today? I fortunately have no relationship with this weird world of art, governed by carefully preserved prejudices with elaborate aesthetic discourses that hide raw greed. But I had a painter friend who unfortunately has already died. Ten or twelve years ago I commissioned and bought several watercolors from him, either because I had always admired his skill or because at the time he was in need of money and had two young children to raise. The watercolors are beautiful and authentic, but they have no monetary value. And yet they have immense sentimental value to me, because they are colorful and expressive pieces of life and creativity left by a good friend who passed away in January 2016.

[@canaandaddario1992]

The one thing that every art dealer and auction house never want to hear a wealthy client say : This painting is a counterfeit, I've been taken for a fool! FAKE OR FORTUNE

[@peehandshihtzu]

Her reaction when he said cow piss yellow was priceless! :)

[@franzwaltenspuhl8892]

Philip, talking about the challenge of working from home “I’ve made an exciting connection” & we see a picture of his dog. Nice!

[@julielily6517]

Are you kidding me? You charge the guest with restoring their paintings? That is ridiculous- the show needs to pay

[@btlgr2901]

What a triumph! 🎉🎉🎉

[@CallieMasters5000]

Who is Ms. "At 42 Million..."?! Somebody needs to interview her and find out if she knows she fires up the start of each of these shows.

[@w.urlitzer1869]

Helena Newman, Chairman of Sotheby's Europe and Worldwide Head of Impressionist & Modern Art. She is most likely aware and appreciative of the hat tip.

[@katiecanuk2951]

Thank you from 🇨🇦 for uploading this series.

[@giovannipotenza123]

These guys clearly knew from the start this was a B. West. Its so obvious with all the lack line drawing that is was a preparatory sketch - and exactly like the large finished work in the USA. They just script this whole thing out for one hour. UUUHH! And dont you hate the self-satisfied fake comments and play-acting of the two. They are trying to make a successful TV drama show - not an real investigation.

[@timhazeltine3256]

Speaking of "self-satisfied"....

[@peacedove1182]

I was half expecting the restorer to be Julian Baumgartner. 🙊

[@DaraghOwens]

I often wonder if he would handle these differently. Also surprised to see that it appears the owner has to pay for the restoration, I assumed that would be part of the program budget.

[@marilynquilts]

❣️

[@peacedove1182]

@@DaraghOwens I also thought it strange he had to pay for it.

[@suthompson6403]

Me too! Where's the washi kozo paper? And the rabbit-skin glue?!

[@pr1me840]

I think they do pay for it,. Just for suspense and story. But if they do not, it might be to keep the search for the truth authentic and not like they are biased towards the outcome.

[@luisv7117]

I had learn so so much from this program, thank you so much for sharing with us.

[@DaraghOwens]

Wow, so fast getting these up. Mucho appreciated :-)

[@superjfbm]

... next stop... eBay

[@freomoodfly]

this lady presenter looks bored and tired, maybe she has seen too many fakes

[@unknown_passerby]

Why did Fiona wear the same outfit in all scenes in one episode? Is it because all scenes were shot in one day? It's same for other episodes. Investigation took months but she wore same outfit. Strange...

[@fionamcgregor4268]

Probably for continuity.

[@christianfrommuslim]

Actually, I like sketch version better than the completed altar piece, because its lighting puts Jesus Christ in a greater spotlight. The execution in the altar piece seems to give Judas, with his ominous, somewhat threatening presence, greater emphasis.

[@faafafineartist]

What a beautiful outcome.

[@luciemedici]

Thank you 😊

[@billyshilling7663]

Huw is my Hero! What a story!!

[@kyliejones8890]

This has got to worth more the $50k

[@JohnathanMackenzie-h8z]

This is my favourite show. This particular episode is the stuff of dreams. Bought on eBay. Incredible. A humble sheep farmer with such an eye for art.

[@douro20]

Dr. Featherstone is actually the director of the Hamilton Kerr Institute.

[@Norfolk250]

HA! It's the 'Covid Episode'. Could they mention it more? It reminds me of the final episode of VICIOUS, where Freddie does a radio program, and his brother comments with "Now I'm going to cough: k'huh. That was the sound you just heard." Golly

[@MossyMozart]

My partner's sister owns a farm, too. But unfortunately, the only "art object" she has probably ever purchased is probably a trumpian NFT of him as Rambo.

[@Project2013B]

Wouldn't it be hilllarious is they did a behind the scenes show, and end up showing Fiona's house where she only has one painting and it's Elvis painted on black velvet.

[@maximhollandnederlandthene7640]

The last supper 🤗 The is a second one on canvas original by Leonardo da Vinci in Tongerloo monestry in Belgium.

[@UmOmar]

36:50 "Do you think we're going to be able to resurrect this picture?" 😂 Very funny pun, but was it intentional or unintentional?

[@Jude74]

I would hope the auction sticker from Christie’s would be enough without the expensive pee pee paint.

[@lususlove]

The owner was so happy, Philip was a bit quiet towards the end. I wonder why.

[@PaulaakaPaben]

Benjamin West was My Hubby's Ancestorol Cousin!

[@ivorytower99]

*@Mightwenotbehappy Hello!* Excited! Series 11 of Fake or Fortune kicks-off this Tuesday!!! Are you =in= the U.K.? Are you able to upload the episodes--yet leave them *unlisted* then alert some of us? Please reply.~

[@mightwenotbehappy]

I’m currently on holiday will be back on the Wednesday and will upload then 👊🏻

[@ivorytower99]

@@mightwenotbehappy OH, 'F' YES! :) HAVE A FAB HOLIDAY!

[@ivorytower99]

@@mightwenotbehappy, I don't mean to be a pest... Where is it hidden?

[@mightwenotbehappy]

@ivorytower99 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZyWm6uEm5WYeJI

[@luisv7117]

mmm it is the one hundred years missing West last supper missing piece and only worth fifty thousand pounds? I guess for a West collector will be worth a lot lot more

[@MariannaK94]

47:43 “Huw is settled at” Bahimshere? Is it me, or Historian Jeramy Haward and the owner Huw Lewis are looking very much alike? Is it why they are being shown awkwardly speaking across a table, and not next to each other as others always are. Hm...

[@theresastephens5997]

😊 hi I'm from New Jersey I live in PA wow some of the museums you go into are unbelievable wow

[@francesacoy4730]

Great story, however the restoration cost shouldn't be charged to the owner of the painting.

[@mayennesebial3463]

Does someone know if he eventually sold the painting? Ö how much did it go for?

[@katharinatrub1338]

My God was I ever tense to hear the Verdict. And then, as if it had been mine, so relieved and happy!

[@rebeccabeaton9237]

A fascinating journey. I was floored by the unconventional origin of the yellow pigment! So very happy for Huw and indeed the art world at having a lost masterpiece recovered.

[@teokotaiandrew3472]

More of this please and its become an every day thing for me to calm down from work as a busy healthcare nursing industry. Much appreciated to these episodes

[@navajoauckland6003]

Cow mango 🥭 leaves piss .. does not roll off the tongue eloquently, I must say

[@franzwaltenspuhl8892]

A black light would probably show that cow urine yellow.

[@ingoronnysellin-wortmann7618]

I can imagin every viever going on eBay parallel to watching this 😄

[@johnsweeney5946]

Does the BBC finance these research efforts or do the owners of the works in question have to foot the bill? Travel, experts, equipment and incidental costs must add up to something formidable.

[@johnsweeney5946]

Cannot get an answer to this question.

[@benediktmorak4409]

for sure it will do much good for the farm! and rightly so!