The Forger's Spell

Archival Summary & Scope

A New York Times Bestseller, Edward Dolnick's *The Forger's Spell* is the gripping true story of Han van Meegeren, the minor Dutch painter who audacioussly impersonated master Johannes Vermeer. For seven years, van Meegeren's psychological genius allowed him to pass off his forgeries as authentic Vermeer works, nearly fooling the art world. This "almost perfect crime" ultimately led to his dramatic trial for his life, offering an insightful look into the nature of fraud and art itself.