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Outlook: Secrets and Lies: Fraudsters and forgers

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Secrets and Lies from Outlook

06/04/2021 GMT

Secrets and Lies: Fraudsters and forgers

BBC World Service - Outlook, Secrets and Lies: Fraudsters and forgers

The art of deception - two extraordinary stories

Two stories about artists who got snagged in a web of deceit.

In this episode we're reaching into the archive and retrieving stories of secrets and lies from the world of art. 

Over many years Shaun Greenhalgh created art forgeries in his garden shed in the English town of Bolton. He fooled the art world into thinking his paintings and sculptures were lost masterpieces by the likes of Leonardo da Vinci, Gauguin and Degas. The scale and breadth of his work is unprecedented.

The personal story behind one of the most famous art frauds of recent times. Margaret Keane was the artist behind the popular 'Big Eyes' paintings of the 1960s, but her husband Walter Keane bullied her into letting him take the credit for them. He made millions of dollars from them, until Margaret took him to court to prove they were her own. Margaret's story was turned into a feature film by Hollywood director, Tim Burton.

And if all this sharing of secrets has got you thinking about a story in your own life we'd love to hear it. Write to us, or send a short voice memo to outlook@bbc.com. The secret could be about you or someone you know, or it could just be a fantastic tale you heard. If your story is about someone you know, just make sure they're ok with you telling us about it.

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