Fiona Bruce and Philip Mould investigate a charming little white flower picture, purported to be by one of the most important abstract artists of the 20th century, Piet Mondrian. Its owner, American Jeffrey Kroll, inherited the picture from his mother and believes it to be genuine. However, the painting was turned down by the Mondrian authentication committee, so the team will have to find new evidence to help persuade them to change their mind. A lot is at stake: if the work is genuine, it could be worth over £250,000. If not, just a few hundred.\n\nJeffrey has spotted that the picture sold at a major auction house in 1993, listed as a genuine work by Mondrian, entitled the White Chrysanthemum. It has a whole range of intriguing labels on the back, showing what appears to be a solid and traceable history. However, it wasn’t included in the 1998 catalogue raisonné of genuine works by Mondrian. Despite this, Jeffrey still believes it is the real deal. But, as the team know all too well, opening up an old case to find new evidence is never simple.\n\nPhilip opens the investigation by heading out to the Netherlands to get to know a lesser-known side of Mondrian’s work – his flower pictures. He also examines it forensically. Under the microscope, it’s clear that the paper was made at the same time as Mondrian was working – so there are positive signs early on. On close inspection, the back of the painting also shows a new provenance lead. Armed with further evidence, he takes it to Professor Aviva Burnstock at the Courtauld Institute in London for more testing. Can the latest scientific analysis help earn the picture a place in a future catalogue raisonné?\n\nOnce all the evidence is gathered, the team submit their findings to the world’s leading authority on Mondrian, Wietse Coppes. Does Jeffrey’s painting belong in the catalogue of Mondrian’s work – or could there be a more sinister explanation?
Source: 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 12: 4. Corot
Fiona Bruce and Philip Mould investigate a lovely landscape painting, purported to be by one of the forefathers of impressionism and one of the most important artists of the 19t ...
17-10-2024
BBC 1
Series 12: 3. Music Memorabilia
The team take on an entertaining new challenge when they plunge into the fast-growing market for rock music memorabilia. Can they prove that a curious silver guitar once belonge ...
10-10-2024
BBC 1
Series 12: 2. Helen Mcnicoll
Could a beautiful painting of women working in a field be a valuable lost work by Helen McNicoll, a celebrated impressionist artist from Canada? The quest to prove it takes the ...
03-10-2024
BBC 1
Series 12: 1. Mondrian
Fiona Bruce and Philip Mould investigate a charming little white flower picture, purported to be by one of the most important abstract artists of the 20th century, Piet Mondrian ...
26-09-2024
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 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 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 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 ...
24-06-2024
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 ...
19-06-2024
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 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 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 7: 3. Henry Moore
The team investigate whether a small watercolour sketch could be by the British 20th-century sculptor Henry Moore. It is the only piece thought to be that of a British artist in ...
12-04-2021
BBC 1
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 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
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 12: 3. Music Memorabilia
The team take on an entertaining new challenge when they plunge into the fast-growing market for rock music memorabilia. Can they prove that a curious silver guitar once belonge ...
10-10-2024
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 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 ...
19-06-2024
BBC 1