Elmyr de Hory (1906 - 1976)

A brilliantly arresting sketch in the manner of Matisse by the infamous master forger Elmyr de Hory.. Following years of forging major artists and fooling leading experts (he is said to have sold over a thousand art forgeries to galleries all over the world.) de Hory became a celebrated artist in his own right. His notoriety as a fraudster had finally given him the lifelong recognition he sought. Allegedly, there are still hundreds of Hory's forgeries hanging in galleries and museums worldwide. Hory's extraordinary story makes this c.1968 original by the artist almost as interesting as the works he forged, or at least, a far better conversation piece. **Please note the oil mark on the left hand side of the picture. Likely to have been acquired in de Hory's studio.**