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Episode details

Radio 4,21 Jun 2025,57 mins

Fraud versus Fraud Hunter

Secrets and Lies

Available for over a year

Eric Hebborn (1934 - 1996) was a real-life master faker. He believed the Art World was a tissue of corruption and lies and his fake paintings were designed to expose that. It's believed that, to this day, there are many of his "fakes" scattered around the great museums of the world. In Mike Harris' imagined drama, fictional top art expert Richard Reynolds believes that genuineness in a work is its very essence. His reputation is based on dating and attributing. For Hebborn, this is tosh designed to keep experts in work. Hebborn thinks Art is universal and should be appreciated for what it is, not for who did it and when. So, when he paints 'new works' in the exact style of Renaissance Masters and sells them to dealers, he is not a fraud or criminal but, rather, 'a late follower.' Art for Art's Sake? Money for God's sake. Cast: Norma Parker Felicity Dean Eric Hebborn Matthew Marsh Richard Reynolds Malcolm Sinclair Jean Watts Louise Beresford Micky Midas Kerry Shale Shirley Sawyer Phoebe-Loveday Raymond Charlotte Biggs-Reynolds/Beth Sarah Lambie Mafia boss/Graham Smith Jonathan Clarkson Written by Mike Harris Produced and Directed by Clive Brill A Brill production for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 4

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