Elmyr de Hory

Born:

April 14, 1906, Budapest, Austria-Hungary

Died:

December 11, 1976, Ibiza, Spain

Nationality:

Hungarian

Profession(s):

Art Forger

Early Life and Education

• Born as Elmyr Hoffmann.
• Studied art, possibly at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris, although details are disputed.
• Claimed to have come from an aristocratic background, a claim that is often questioned.

Career and Major Achievements

• Became a highly skilled art forger, specializing in the works of artists such as Modigliani, Matisse, Picasso, and Renoir.
• Successfully sold hundreds, if not thousands, of forgeries to reputable art dealers and collectors around the world.
• His forgeries infiltrated prominent collections and museums.
• Operated primarily from the 1940s to the 1960s.
• Eventually apprehended and faced legal consequences in France and Spain.

Notable Works

• Numerous forgeries of works attributed to Amedeo Modigliani, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and others. Distinguishing individual forgeries is often impossible.

Legacy and Impact

Elmyr de Hory is remembered as one of the most prolific and successful art forgers of the 20th century. His activities exposed vulnerabilities within the art market and raised questions about authenticity and the valuation of art. Although his actions were criminal, his story became a subject of fascination and has been explored in books and films. The exploration of Elmyr de Hory's career often takes the form of an 'elmyr de hory modigliani biography' due to his prolific output of forgeries attributed to Modigliani.

In Popular Culture

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