Elmyr De Hory

Elmyr De Hory was the most successful art forger in history, selling over a thousand art forgeries to reputable art galleries worldwide.

Criminal

1905

December 11, 1976

71

Elmyr De Hory, a Hungarian-born painter, gained notoriety as history’s most successful art forger, selling over a thousand forgeries to esteemed galleries across the globe. His counterfeit works, which included imitations of Picasso, Matisse, and Modigliani, were featured in Clifford Irving’s book “Fake” and Orson Welles’ documentary essay film “F for Fake.” De Hory also became a prime suspect in a murder case, experienced unfair treatment from the police, and eventually shifted his focus to producing original art. Although he passed away in 1976, the criminal case against him remains unproven.