Art Market Monitor

Global Coverage ~ Unique Analysis

  • Contact Us
  • Podcast
  • Newsletter
  • AMMpro

Greed and the Greek: Are These Lost Van Goghs?

April 16, 2014 by Marion Maneker

Greek van Gogh

This woman claims all she wants is to have the Nazi-looted art her father liberated from a train when he was a Greek resistance fighter. But somehow her greed is getting in the way:

The Van Gogh Museum wrote to Doreta in December of 2006, and requested to see the ‘man with a pipe’ painting. She says that they made her an outrageous offer: “They said they would authenticate it, but the contract they sent me stated they had the right to keep it forever, for free.”

Doreta reveals she has now spent $150,000 trying to authenticate the paintings; including X-rays and various lab tests. “I am very poor. I have spent every penny I have on the authentication. The art world has even disputed lab tests I’ve had done on the paint. I spent so much money on the painting that I lost my home. We had to sell up. I don’t even want to sell the painting, all I want is for them to admit it’s real.”

Van Gogh Mystery: $100m Nazi Art Collection Leaves Woman Broke

More from Art Market Monitor

  • The Man Behind the van GoghThe Man Behind the van Gogh
  • Everybody Hates the Art MarketEverybody Hates the Art Market
  • 50% of Works on Art Market Are Not Fake: Over-Zealous Statement Walked Back 50% of Works on Art Market Are Not Fake: Over-Zealous Statement Walked Back
  • Munich Hoard Provokes Art Critic FantasiesMunich Hoard Provokes Art Critic Fantasies
  • Explaining the Turner Short ListExplaining the Turner Short List
  • A Novel Way to Authenticate a Van Gogh
  • Print
  • Tweet

Filed Under: General

Advertise on Art Market Monitor with Nectar Ads

Top Posts

  • Sotheby's Unveils Plans for New Galleries at York Ave.
  • Agnes Gund & Oprah Winfrey Lead Auction of Women Artists at Sotheby's to Benefit Miss Porter's School
  • Christie's Announces $70m Picasso Self Portrait
  • Four of Picasso's Women Valued at $28m Come to Christie's from Rose-Walters Collection
  • Sotheby's Celebrates Bauhaus's Centenary with 25 Works in Imp-Mod Sales
  • Frieze LA Sales Report
  • Phillips London Contemporary Has Richter, Kippenberger and Lichtenstein
  • David Hockney's $20m Pacific Coast Highway & Santa Monica
  • Sotheby's Targets Fiduciaries with New Client Group
  • What Happens to Sotheby's After the Activists Get What They Want?


  • About Us/ Contact
  • Podcast
  • AMMpro
  • Newsletter
  • Art Loans
  • FAQ

twitterfacebooksoundcloud
Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Advertise on Art Market Monitor