The Italian printmaker and etcher Luca Giordano was nicknamed “Proteus,” due to his remarkable ability to imitate other artists’ styles. One of the most talented painters of his time, he was lured to Spain by King Charles II. In 1653 he passed a painting as Albert Dürer’s Christ Healing the Cripple. Ironically, the collector who ended up with this work grew suspicious and summoned an expert, Giordano himself, to examine it. Giordano took credit for the painting and pointed out his signature in the background; when taken to court, the judges applauded him for painting as well as Dürer. His motivations for forging artwork seemed to be practical jokes and to display his artistic ability.
By Caroline Scarola