Rubens Art - 60 In Doubt

The authenticity of up to 60 paintings attributed to Rubens has been called into doubt after the expertise of the art historian responsible for authenticating them was questioned. Ludwig Burchard was one of the most respected scholars of the 20th century, revered for his knowledge of Rubens. But almost 50 years after his death, research suggests that he misattributed scores of paintings to the 17th-century master. On more than one occasion he may have given out certificates of authenticity for commercial gain. Paintings to which he gave his blessing, and which made their way to collections worldwide, have since been demoted to lesser hands by the Corpus Rubenianum, the definitive study of Rubens by the Centre for Flemish Art in Antwerp. Long-held doubts about the authenticity of Rubens’s Samson and Delilah are certain to be raised once more. For the full story - click the title Irish Art