hydeordie:

More than ever, the seemingly sexy world of art crime is basking in the spotlight. In the last few months alone, a new program in Italy promoted itself as the world’s first devoted exclusively to international art crime studies, an ARTnews investigation concluded there is more fake than real modern Russian art on the market, the New York Timeslooked into the ongoing problem of art authenticity in Vietnam, and a recent lawsuit filed in Oakland County, Michigan, formally accusedPark West Gallery of selling fakes to unsuspecting customers on a cruise ship last year. While these examples illustrate the rising recognition of unscrupulous behavior by the perpetrators, they also raise a question: Why are individuals of means, often extraordinarily savvy in their other financial dealings, so vulnerable when it comes to the acquisition of art? What is it about art that causes buyers to take such leaps of faith, often only to discover that simple research could have easily uncovered any snags or malfeasance?

It’s a very trusting relationship a buyer has with his dealer, or the auction house, or that guy on the street in Venice. 

Wise Advice