Johan Christian DAHL
1788–1857, Norway/Germany
Signature proven counterfeit
Oil on board, signed "Dahl". Ostensibly depicting a genuine painting by the Norwegian artist Johan Christian Dahl (1788-1857). Attempted aggravated fraud. 1986 tried a private person deceive an unknown number of people buying paintings for 39,193 NOK. The man referred to a valuation made by an auction house in Oslo, Norway. He never told that he himself, in his apartment in Copenhagen, had provided the paintings with forged signatures, they were not at all genuine which he claimed. The painting has been seized by police and after examination been assessed as a forgery.
Signature considered genuine
Johan Christian Dahl hadde stor interesse for våre eldste kulturminner, både for deres bevaring og for den betydningen de hadde for vår nasjonale selvforståelse. I et brev til Andreas Faye, datert 11. juni 1835, skrev Dahl blant annet: \\\"Siden min Reise 1826 ere mange af disse Ting Forsvundne, jeg tror meer af letsindighed og uvidenhed enn nogen anden Grund.\\\" Bautasteinen i fjordlandskapet gir motivet en historisk karakter og viser at her har mennesker levet og virket i uminnelige tider. I Dahls nasjonalt begeistrede samtid, ble bautasteinen et symbol for nasjonens identitet og eldgamle historie. Foreningen til norske Fortidsminnesmerkers Bevaring ble stiftet i 1844 etter initiativ av blant annet Dahl.
Source: www.blomqvist.no
Labro Fors, Telemark
