Reader's Digest

90 | July• 2018

THE ART DETECTIVE

want their prospective art purchases

veriied.

“We can test with ultraviolet flu-

orescence chemical analysis and

ultra-high resolution digital imaging”

he explains. “We’re able to take such

an extremely small sample using very

fine eye surgery scalpels that you

shouldn’t be able to see where we’ve

been.”

Beltracchi tried to stay ahead by

keeping himself informed about

scientific advances and submitting

samples of the paints he was using

for chemical analysis. “If a test re-

port highlighted any materials that

could have only been available after

the work was supposed to have been

true.ItalsohelpedthatFlechtheim’s
lifehadbeencutshortwhenhehad
ledtheNazisin1933onlytocatch
hislegonanailanddieofbloodpoi-
soning upon reaching London.
What the gang didn’t know how-
ever was that as their operation be-
came ever more sophisticated so
toodidEastaugh’sabilitytocatch
them.Hisknowledgeofhistoricalart
techniques was now second to none
bolsteredbyscientificadvances
andhehadset-uphisownbusiness
ArtAnalysis&Research.Eastaugh’s
laboratoriesareastechnologically
equipped as the National Gallery
in London and he has an impres-
sive roster of worldwide clients who

PHOTO: GERAINT LEWIS/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

AwomanintheMoritzburgArtMuseuminGermanylooksata

forgery by Wolfgang Beltracchi which was created in the style of

artist Heinrich Campendonk