Roberto MATTA
1911–2002, Chile/Italy

Oil on canvas, composition, signed with Matta's monogram, 98x148 cm. Ostensibly picturing a genuine painting by Roberto Matta. In 2001, January, sold a foreign national resident in Enkoping in Sweden four oil paintings to an art dealer in the Old Town in Stockholm. The paintings were copies or pastiches of the Chilean surrealist Roberto Matta, who was then residing in Tarquinia outside Rome in Italy. All the paintings were signed with forged monogram. The seller stated that the paintings belonged to the Shah of Iran. Art dealer who swallowed the fictional story and bought the paintings for about 600,000 Swedish kronor all together. This painting was sent to Sotheby's in New York for sale. The auction house sent in turn a photograph of the painting to Roberto Matta Foundation, that monitors the rights to Matta's works. They announced that the painting was a forgery. Even Roberto Matta himself confirmed that he never painted this painting when he saw it. Court: The painting is a "counterfeit", a fake signed pastiche where someone has tried to emulate Roberto Matta. The painting shall be forfeited.

Oil on canvas, composition, signed with Matta's monogram, approx. 110x148 cm. Ostensibly picturing a genuine painting by Roberto Matta. A gallery in Stockholm reports that they probably have been exposed to fraud. They bought a large painting, signed by Roberto Matta's monogram and suspect that it is a forgery. The painting has stamps and labels showing that it has been exhibited at the Dell Oca in Rome. Upon examination, it appears that Sotheby'si both New York and London has assessed the painting as not genuine when the previous owner tried to leave it for sale. The painting has been seized by police and after examination judged a forgery.