Portuguese Judiciary Police arrests art counterfeiter

A 64 year old man was arrested this week by the Portuguese Judiciary Police due to highly suspicion of art counterfeiting.

Caught in the very act during a house search, the counterfeiter is acused of art faking and counterfeiting of famous national and international painters, as well as document falsifying. Among the 62 apreended paintings, there are names such as Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet, Malhoa, Paula Rego, Vieira da Silva, Cargaleiro, Maluda.
He had predilection for counterfeiting works by Paula Rego.

The counterfeits, that were being sold through the internet between 100 and 1000 Euro, are oils on canvas exhibiting a high quality and resemblance to the works by the artists, leading to eventual mislead by the buyers.

The investigations continue with the purpose of dermining if any other fake paintings by the same author have entered the art market.

Last year, near 130 fake paintings were apreended by the Portuguese Judiciary Police.