World renowned fingerprint forgery detection specialist, Pat Wertheim, examined fingerprints found on an alleged Jackson Pollock painting which had been 'authenticated' and found they were forged,.
United States of America (Press Release) April 8, 2008 --
(Phoenix, AZ, USA – 7 April 2008) Commissioned by Global Fine Art Registry, LLC., Pat Wertheim, examined fingerprints found on an alleged Jackson Pollock painting which had been “authenticated” by self-styled art forensic specialist, Peter Paul Biro of Montreal, Canada (the same expert who was featured in the movie Who the %$#@ is Jackson Pollock? as having “authenticated” the painting Teri’s Find as a Pollock). Werthaim found that the fingerprints on the alleged Pollock were forged, planted there by an inked rubber stamp made from a cast of a fingerprint on a paint can at the Pollock-Krasner House.
In 2007, veteran fingerprint expert Thomas Hanley, commissioned by Fine Art Registry, examined and reported on fingerprints claimed by Biro to prove that a painting which was then in the possession of the of a Long Island family, was created by Jackson Pollock.
In October 2007, Pat Wertheim accompanied Thomas Hanley to view the fingerprints on the canvas and stretcher of the painting at the Long Island home of its then owners. They then visited the Pollock-Krasner house where Thomas Hanley made Mikrosil® casts of the fingerprint on the paint can used by Biro for comparison in his “authentication” of the painting. From these casts, Hanley made rubber “stamps” of the fingerprint and from these produced inked prints which were then photographed. Pat Wertheim then enhanced and studied photos of all of the fingerprints in question and published his findings in a report just released on the Fine Art Registry website today.
A summary of his findings follows:
An examination of fingerprints found on a painting belonging to a Long Island family, purported to match those found on a paint can in Jackson Pollock’s studio and therefore to be fingerprints of the famous abstract expressionist, thereby “proving” that the painting was by Jackson Pollock and worth up to $100 million, were examined by myself at the request of Global Fine Art Registry, LLC. My investigation and examination led to the conclusion that the fingerprints on the painting indeed match one on a paint can in Jackson Pollock’s studio. However, I also concluded that the fingerprints on the painting were forged, placed there by means of an inked rubber stamp made from a cast taken from the print on the paint can in the Pollock studio. (Excerpted from Pat Wertheim’s report)
The full report can be read on the Fine Art Registry website.
Pat Wertheim will first discuss this case, the second ever documented case of true fingerprint forgery in the history of the science of fingerprint examination and analysis, at the April 8 and 9 conference of the Nebraska Chapter of the International Association for Identification in Ashland, NE. He will also present the case at the California State Division IAI conference in May 2008 and again at the IAI’s 93rd International Educational Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, in August 2008.
In 2007, veteran fingerprint expert Thomas Hanley, commissioned by Fine Art Registry, examined and reported on fingerprints claimed by Biro to prove that a painting which was then in the possession of the of a Long Island family, was created by Jackson Pollock.
In October 2007, Pat Wertheim accompanied Thomas Hanley to view the fingerprints on the canvas and stretcher of the painting at the Long Island home of its then owners. They then visited the Pollock-Krasner house where Thomas Hanley made Mikrosil® casts of the fingerprint on the paint can used by Biro for comparison in his “authentication” of the painting. From these casts, Hanley made rubber “stamps” of the fingerprint and from these produced inked prints which were then photographed. Pat Wertheim then enhanced and studied photos of all of the fingerprints in question and published his findings in a report just released on the Fine Art Registry website today.
A summary of his findings follows:
An examination of fingerprints found on a painting belonging to a Long Island family, purported to match those found on a paint can in Jackson Pollock’s studio and therefore to be fingerprints of the famous abstract expressionist, thereby “proving” that the painting was by Jackson Pollock and worth up to $100 million, were examined by myself at the request of Global Fine Art Registry, LLC. My investigation and examination led to the conclusion that the fingerprints on the painting indeed match one on a paint can in Jackson Pollock’s studio. However, I also concluded that the fingerprints on the painting were forged, placed there by means of an inked rubber stamp made from a cast taken from the print on the paint can in the Pollock studio. (Excerpted from Pat Wertheim’s report)
The full report can be read on the Fine Art Registry website.
Pat Wertheim will first discuss this case, the second ever documented case of true fingerprint forgery in the history of the science of fingerprint examination and analysis, at the April 8 and 9 conference of the Nebraska Chapter of the International Association for Identification in Ashland, NE. He will also present the case at the California State Division IAI conference in May 2008 and again at the IAI’s 93rd International Educational Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, in August 2008.
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