The Battle Between Scientists and Art Forgers - Scientific Methods for Detecting Art Forgeries

Explore the fascinating world of art authentication in this 57-minute Royal Institution discourse where Professor Jehane Ragai, emeritus Professor of Chemistry at the American University in Cairo, delves into the sophisticated battle between scientists and art forgers. Learn about cutting-edge scientific techniques and traditional methods used to detect fraudulent artwork, examining notorious cases including the Beltracchi, Chagall, Pollock, and Rothko affairs. Understand the motivations behind major art deceptions, the critical importance of proper authentication tools and techniques, and discover why identifying a work as counterfeit fundamentally alters our perception of it. Delivered by an acclaimed expert who has lectured extensively across the US, Europe, and the Middle East, and authored the renowned book "The Scientist and the Forger," gain deep insights into the intersection of science and art authentication in this traditional Royal Institution discourse format, complete with its ceremonial bell-ringing and precise hour-long presentation.

Syllabus

Steeped in nearly two centuries of tradition, a Discourse is more than just a lecture. The Discourse lasts exactly an hour, and a bell is rung to mark the beginning and end. To keep the focus on the topic, presenters begin sharply at pm without introduction and we lock the speaker into a room ten minutes ahead of the start legend has it that a speaker once tried to escape!. Some of our guests and speakers dress smartly for our Discourse events to add to this sense of occasion. Read more about Discourses here: https://www.rigb.org/explore-science/explore/blog/history-friday-evening-discourse