Berlin Art Dealer Sentenced to Imprisonment for Auctioning Fake Paintings - Berlin Art Dealer Jailed for Selling Fake Marcoussis Paintings Through Top Auction Houses
A Berlin art dealer has received a prison sentence for selling fake oil paintings through two prominent auction houses. The case involved forged works by French-Polish artist Louis Marcoussis, which were exposed as counterfeits in 2019. The trial concluded with convictions for fraud and document forgery, alongside financial penalties.
The scandal first emerged in 2019 when investigations revealed that Kunsthaus Lempertz and Van Ham Fine Art had unknowingly auctioned forged paintings. These fakes were linked to a criminal group led by Otto Prokop, prompting legal action and compensation claims. The forgeries were eventually identified due to the presence of pigments that did not exist during Marcoussis' lifetime.
The art dealer, whose name was not disclosed, was formally charged in September 2023. His trial began in November 2024, with prosecutors pushing for a three-year prison term. They also sought a €2,700 fine for a 43-year-old accomplice involved in selling a fake work by Alice Halicka-Marcoussis. Despite the defence's push for acquittal, the court ruled against both men. The dealer was sentenced to two years and three months in prison, along with a €2,700 fine for attempted fraud and document forgery. His accomplice received a separate conviction. Additionally, the court ordered the confiscation of €21,000 linked to the scheme.
The case has led to legal consequences for those involved in the fraudulent art sales. The dealer's imprisonment and financial penalties mark the end of a lengthy investigation. The auction houses, though not directly accused, were tied to the scandal through the sale of the counterfeit works.
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