Mysteries, Copies and Forgeries

The objects on view in this display are not what they appear to be. Some were created by forgers, but others have more complicated stories, in part because ideas about “authenticity” have changed over time. Featuring nearly a dozen works from the John G. Johnson Collection, this gallery explores how the research of curators and conservators has changed our understanding of these pieces. While the museum has made plenty of discoveries about these works over the years, some mysteries remain unsolved.