Fake or Fortune? Series 11, Episode 3
October 10, 2023
Could two simple sketches be by the great French artists Pissarro and Cezanne?
In Episode 3 of Fake or Fortune? Series 11, Philip and Fiona travel to France, chasing the legacy of Impressionist and post-Impressionist giants Camille Pissarro and, his friend and protege, Paul Cezanne. In the picturesque landscapes of Provence, Fiona looks for a simple watercolor owned by Dominique Rogers, the great-niece of the poet and close friend of Cezanne, Anthony Valabregue. Despite Dominique's lack of admiration for Cezanne's style, she believes the painting is a direct gift from the artist, passed down through Valabregue's widow to her father in the 1920s.
Meanwhile, Philip heads to northern France, where Pissarro lived with his family and collaborated with artists like Cezanne. Zana Glaser seeks assistance for a drawing of cabbage sellers inherited from her father. While the outline and signature suggest Pissarro's hand, the Pissarro committee rejected it at auction in 2012, suspecting additional coloring by another artist.
The team confronts questions of authenticity and intent—did someone, perhaps even a member of Pissarro's family, enhance the drawing's appeal and value? The stakes are high, with the Pissarro potentially worth £50,000 or as little as £1,000 if deemed inauthentic. The Cezanne, if proven genuine, could fetch a staggering £100,000. The team faces the challenge of gathering sufficient evidence to sway the authorities in their favor.
