The Greeks gave it to a Bulgarian and wanted 10 million euros for it, he doubted its authenticity
The painting of Jackson Pollock, discovered a month ago in Sofia, may be fake, “24 Chasa” learned. It was not offered for sale precisely because the intermediary doubted its authenticity.
The man, who is over 50 years old, was contacted by Greeks. They told him they wanted 10 million euros for the canvas. Did he give it to the Bulgarian, who saw that the documents were missing. In order to provide them to him, he even made a meeting with them in Sofia. Received only part of them.
The actress believed to have painted the picture is Lauren Bacall. “Dedicated to my very talented and dear friend Lauren Bacall, Happy Birthday 16.09.1949”, written in English on the back of the canvas, reported the Deputy. the city prosecutor of Sofia Desislava Petrova. This is the actual birthday of the actress (for her – see box). Pollock’s signature was also added. It is not clear if he is real.
There is also something like a canvas story on the gabra. According to the inscriptions there, Bacall sold the painting in 1958, and before it came to the Greeks, it was in Romania.
It also says that the canvas was in the personal collection of the communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. It was a gift to him. His signature was also on the back of the painting. Romanian journalists contacted by BBC confirmed that the autograph appeared to be authentic. However, insiders pointed out that such fakes of very good quality can be made easily.
Curiously, according to the story on its back, the painting was restored more than 20 years ago. It is unclear whether this is true. Experts pointed out to “24 Chasa” that it is quite atypical to write such things on the canvas itself. The practice was to have separate documents for each transaction and intervention on the work.
“Yes, a dedication on the back, when it is a personal gift, can be there, but then it is not kept as a practice to write to whom it was,” said an expert, who wished to remain anonymous. According to him, a Bulgarian would not buy the canvas if he is not sure of its origin.
Prosecutor Petrova explained that the investigation had been underway for more than a month. There is also an expert reference which shows that in terms of style, execution technique and artistic specificity, the painting corresponds to the aesthetic features characteristic of Jackson Pollock’s painting from the period 1945-1950. An analysis of the binder of paints would be useful, but such was not possible at the moment, added the deputy. the city prosecutor.
The broker has not been charged. He cooperated with the investigation. According to acquaintances, he was in prison, but not for such activity. He was approached by a famous collector of antiques.
International assistance, including European investigation warrants, would also be used to establish whether the canvas was genuine. Their purpose is to track the movement of the picture.
According to those familiar with the market, the amount for which the canvas was initially estimated, in case it is original – 50 million euros, is not unrealistic. However, there were very few Pollock experts in the world and they would demand a minimum of €500,000 to view the work.
The action in which it was opened is joint with Greece and is under the supervision of Europol.
The actress has a “Golden Globe”. She is the last wife of the legend Humphrey Bogart
Lauren Bacall is among the most famous actresses of Hollywood’s classic period. The star was born Betty Joan Persky on September 16, 1924 in the Bronx neighborhood of New York. The connection to the story with the Bulgarian painting is that both her parents are Jewish, but her mother came to the US from the Romanian city of Iași, where she was born. On his father’s side, he is related to Shimon Peres, former prime minister and president of Israel.
In 1941, Bacall enrolled in acting classes in his hometown. At that time, she briefly met Kirk Douglas, who had not yet achieved world fame. The following year, she made her Broadway debut when she was not yet 18 years old. She also began to appear as a model, having sessions for covers of publications such as “Vogue” and “Harper’s Bazaar”.
He made his Hollywood debut in 1944. By then, she had already chosen Lauren as her first name, and Bacall was a variation of her mother’s maiden name. By then, she had already divorced the actress’ father, and the two had not seen each other for years.
Her debut is in the adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s novel “To Have and Have Not”. There Bacall partnered with Humphrey Bogart, who is at the peak of his fame after the release of “Casablanca” 2 years earlier.
The spark between the two is believed to have rekindled on set and Bogart divorced the following year. The 25 years younger actress got married almost immediately. In 1949, she gave birth to a son, and after another 3 years a daughter. Bacall remained with the actor until his death in 1957.
She then had a brief romantic relationship with Frank Sinatra. In 1961, she married actor Jason Robards, with whom she had one child.
It wasn’t until 1996 that Bacall achieved his greatest success. Then she received a “Golden Globe” for a supporting female role in the film “Two-Faced Mirror”. Despite expectations that she will also win an Oscar, she loses.
The actress died in 2014 in New York, a month before her 90th birthday.
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