The team investigate an 18th-century landscape: could it be a lost work by the great British master of landscape painting, Thomas Gainsborough? \n\nThe painting has been in the family of owner Mark Cropper for generations, and until the 1970s it was considered to be a Gainsborough. But then a valuation downgraded it to a Barker of Bath – an attribution Philip calls a ‘bin name’. Mark’s father tore off the Gainsborough label in disgust, but Mark would love to be able to put the name Gainsborough back on the painting. \n\nPhilip is intrigued by this painting as it’s a landscape he recognises. Mark’s picture looks very much like a famous print by Gainsborough, copied from one of his paintings, believed to be lost for many years. The trouble is that in 1999, Philip helped authenticate a different picture as 'the lost Gainsborough'. Could he and the experts who authenticated that picture have got it wrong? \n\nThe Gainsborough print of the lost picture was very famous, and over the years it has been copied many times. Could Mark’s picture be merely a copy of the print? By studying the various copies and prints and examining how they differ, Philip deduces that Mark’s picture isn’t a copy of the print, which means it’s either a copy of the original or the original itself.\n\nMeanwhile, Fiona tries to trace the provenance of the picture. Her journey takes her to grand country houses, archives and auction houses up and down the country as she follows the trail of several labels on the back of the frame. She also meets the son of the former owner of the Gainsborough landscape that was authenticated in 1999, She is keen to know what provenance was attached to that picture. \n\nAt the Courtauld Institute, infrared and x-ray photography reveal a startling discovery beneath the layers of Mark's painting. Finally, the dossier of evidence is handed over to Hugh Belsey, the expert who will determine the fate of the painting.
Source: BBC 1
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BBC 1
Series 8: 1. The Lost Gainsborough
The team investigate an 18th-century landscape: could it be a lost work by the great British master of landscape painting, Thomas Gainsborough? \n\nThe painting has been in the ...
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BBC 1
Series 11: 1. Elisabeth Frink
Fiona Bruce and Philip Mould head to the beautiful Essex countryside on the trail of one of the 20th century’s greatest artists, Dame Elisabeth Frink. They are investigati ...
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BBC 1
Series 11: 4. Arshile Gorky
Fiona Bruce and Philip Mould investigate a murky canvas that could be by Arshile Gorky, a pioneer of abstract expressionism. Works by this Armenian-American artist fetch million ...
28-08-2024
BBC 1
Series 10: 4. Flemish Old Master
Fiona and Philip visit a church in Port Glasgow to investigate whether a mysterious work depicting Christ after the crucifixion could be a lost masterpiece by one of the great p ...
24-10-2024
BBC 1
Series 11: 2. Joshua Reynolds
Fiona Bruce and Philip Mould head to north London to meet Glyn Hopkin, a car dealer with a soft spot for art. He’s taken a gamble on a painting he hopes is by a towering f ...
26-07-2024
BBC 1
Series 11: 3. Cezanne And Pissarro
Fiona Bruce and Philip Mould head to France on the trail of two of the greatest Impressionist and post-Impressionist artists, Camille Pissarro and his friend and protege, Paul C ...
21-08-2024
BBC 1
Series 3: 2. Constable
The Fake or Fortune team takes on a doubly challenging investigation as they try to prove that not one but two paintings are missing works by one of Britain's best-loved artists ...
15-11-2021
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Series 8: 3. De Chirico
In this episode, Fiona and Philip investigate what could be one of the best bargains ever seen on Fake or Fortune? Could a junk shop find, bought for £1 almost 30 years ag ...
24-05-2021
BBC 1
Series 8: 4. A Venetian View
In this episode, Philip and Fiona investigate a highly desirable Venetian view. It was inherited by owner Nick Hopkinson from his great-grandfather, Meyer Spielman. Nick grew up ...
31-05-2021
BBC 1
Series 10: 3. Sisley
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