In the beginning...

The women at the desk were lovely and informative - the security guard was nasty - self-importance is a major trait in lower-Fairfield County which I find amusing...I lived in New Canaan, CT for several years, the Bostonian Snob in me wanted to say: "get over yourself" :) ...okay let's see the first exhibition which is:

Fakes and Forgeries: The Art of Deception Exhibition
Examples of Western paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts that are imposters including some of the rarest, and most famous decpetive works.

Probably the work of Alfred Andre (French, 1839-1919)
The Last Supper
Plaque, painted enamel on copper, partly gilt
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of George Blumenthal, 1941
This painted enamel plaque with gilt details was atributed to the atelier of Jean Penicaud I, an artist who worked in enamel in sixteenth-century Limoges in France. Conservator and forger Alfred Andre restored the authentic Penicaud enamel, and someone in his studio copied the original. I was attracted to this because of the marvelous colors, and it was The Last Supper.


Luigi Parmiggiani (Italian, 1860-c.1932)
St. Michael and the Dragon

Made of parcel gilt silver with semi-precious stones, shows the archangel St. Michael battling the dragon of the Apocalypse. In 2006 The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, bought it for its permanent collection, feels that it is clearly based on a medieval prototype although no such elegant example in silver is known. The sculpture is an excellent example of the historicizing taste of its era. Luigi Parmiggiani, a well-known anarchist and forger, sold precious works in the medieval style to both the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Great shield - I want it.

Girl Skipping Rope Bank

Cast Iron with Polychrome

Designer: Philadelphia: James H. Brown

Manufacturer: Cromwell, CT - J. and E. Stevens Company

April 15, 1890

Originally created in brass by the designer, a mold of the original was made from which the cast copies were produced. The Stevens Company was noted for its cast iron toys and in the 1870's became the world's largest producer of mechanical banks.

John Myatt, in the manner of Joan Miro (Spanish, 1893-1983)

Harlequin Disturbs Sleeping Fish 2007

Mixed media on paper

Courtesy John Myatt

A decade of forging paintings and serving prison time, John Myatt continues to produce works of other artists. He sells his work legitimately, and the backs of his works bear the inscription: "Genuine Fake".

Probably Brigido Lara (Mexican, c. 1940) in the manner of the Late Classic period, 600-900 A.D.

Large Standing Figure

Believed by scholars to be a ceramic sculpture represented Cihuateoti, an ancient goddess of woman who die in childbirth, assumed that it originated in south-central Veracruz in Mexico. Experts believe this is not a remnant of an ancient civilization but, rather a modern work in an ancient style probably by Brigido Lara.

Recumbent Ibex

Black limestone

Brooklyn Museum, Anonymous Gift

Persian sculpture of a recumbent ibex in black limestone imitates the Achaemenian period. It was exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art when its authenticity was questioned - Technical analysis declared it a fake.

Unknown artist, in the manner of Andy Warhol

(American, 1930-1987)

Campbell Soup Cans

after Warhol's originals of 1962

Synthetic polymer on six canvases

FBI, New York Office, Major Theft SquadThe second exhibition was the:

The Bruce Museum - A Century of Change Exhibition

This exhibition showcases the Museum's nearly 100-year old history with photographs, decorative arts, sculptures, and natural history objects.

Frederick Childe Hassam (American, 1859-1935)

The Mill Pond, Cos Cob, 1902 Oil on canvas Anonymous Gift

Urn, International Centre Piece, 1900

Irish, Belleek Pottery - Parian porcelain

Gift of Mrs. Horace V. Steadman

Originally, it was made for a table in a castle hall, today there are only three of them left intact.

I found this piece to be exquisite. Such detail!!!

It is so regal looking...

Jivaro Tsantsa

Shaur Indians

Ecuadorian and Peruvian Amazon, early 20th century- Gift of Mrs. Edward F. Smith, 1957

Purchased in Lima, Peru by Mr. Edward F. Smith.

After the ceremonial uses of the warfare trophies, the Jivaro Indians discarded or sold the tsantsa, or shrunken heads, as tourist trade items. This was wild!!!

John Frederick Kensett (American, 1816-1872)

Fourteen Mile Island, Lake George, 19th Century

Oil on canvas

Gift of George Norris Morgan - in memory of Ethel Boies Morgan, 1946

Early Morning in Connectituct, 1940

Oil on canvas

Museum purchase in memory of Eugene Gee Swartz, 1996

Matilda Browne (American, 1869-1947)

August Morning, c. 1919

Oil on canvas

Museum purchase 1919

The Permanent Exhibitions included: Changes in Our Land, The Mineral Gallery, and The Woodland Diorama - I had no desire to see stuffed animals, or minerals (I had my own collection as a kid) and as far as Changes in Our Land, I recently watched Al Gore's documentary.

I hope you enjoyed yourself...onward and upward to The MET and Wadsworth.