Spanish Man Arrested for Attempting to Sell Fake Da Vinci Painting
In a surprising twist in the art world, a Spanish man was arrested while trying to sell a counterfeit painting attributed to Leonardo da Vinci. The arrest occurred at the Modane border post as the suspect was traveling to Milan, Italy, with the fake artwork in his vehicle. Initially claiming the piece was valued at €1.3 million, the painting, titled "Portrait of Gian Giacomo Trivulzio," was accompanied by an expired export permit, raising suspicions among authorities
Experts from the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid examined the painting and determined that it was not an authentic da Vinci but rather a poorly executed imitation from the early 20th century, worth only between €3,000 and €5,000. The investigation revealed that the work had been created with fraudulent intent, and the man faces serious legal repercussions for his actions.
This incident underscores the ongoing issues of art fraud in the international market and highlights the importance of rigorous authentication processes in protecting the integrity of renowned artists' legacies.
