The art detective : fakes, frauds, and finds and the search for lost treasures

The supremely telegenic star of the original __Antiques Roadshow__ dishes up his best tales of uncovering lost masterpieces and unmasking fakes. How can you tell a masterpiece from a piece of junk?Philip Mould has been so successful at discovering buried treasures that he's affectionately known as "the art detective." Now, at last, he has decided to let the eleven million fans of __Antiques Roadshow__ in on his secrets. Each chapter revolves around a particular painting and the people who helped unmask its creator's identity-from an ingeniously forged Norman Rockwell (good enough to fool the Rockwell Museum) to a Winslow Homer found in a dump. Witty and compulsively readable, __The Art Detective__ is memoir, art history, and brilliant storytelling all rolled into one. The art world has never seemed quite so treacherous, so beguiling- and so much fun What separates a masterpiece from a piece of junk? Thanks to the BBC's Antiques Roadshow and its American spin-off, everyone is searching garage sales and hunting online for hidden gems, wondering whether their attics contain trash or treasures. In The Art Detective , Philip Mould, one of the world's foremost authorities on British portraiture and an irreverent and delightful expert for the Roadshow , serves up his secrets and his best stories, blending the technical details of art detection and restoration with juicy tales peopled by a range of eccentric collectors, scholars, forgers, and opportunists. Peppered with practical advice, each chapter focuses on one particular painting and the mystery that surrounds it. Mould is our trusty detective, tracking down clues, uncovering human foibles and following hunches until the truth is revealed. Mould is known for his ability to crack the toughest puzzles and whether he's writing about a fake Norman Rockwell, a hidden Rembrandt, or a lost Gainsborough, he brings both the art and the adventure to life. The Art Detective is memoir, mystery, art history, and brilliant yarn all rolled into one. The supremely telegenic star of the original Antiques Roadshow dishes up his best tales of uncovering lost masterpieces and unmasking fakes. How can you tell a masterpiece from a piece of junk? Philip Mould has been so successful at discovering buried treasures that he's affectionately known as "the art detective." Now, at last, he has decided to let the eleven million fans of Antiques Roadshow in on his secrets. Each chapter revolves around a particular painting and the people who helped unmask its creator's identity-from an ingeniously forged Norman Rockwell (good enough to fool the Rockwell Museum) to a Winslow Homer found in a dump. Witty and compulsively readable, The Art Detective is memoir, art history, and brilliant storytelling all rolled into one. A leading authority on British portraiture and expert for the BBC's Antiques Roadshow shares favorite stories from his career while imparting professional insights into detecting and restoring valuable art. The case of the hidden hoard -- The mystery of the missing Gainsborough -- The Norman Rockwell hoax -- The Rembrandt in disguise -- A queen in distress -- A Winslow Homer lost and found.