Italian Police Uncover Forgery Workshop, Seize 71 Fake Artworks

Italian police have uncovered a clandestine workshop in Rome where 71 forged paintings attributed to renowned artists like Picasso and Rembrandt were being produced and sold online. The operation was discovered by the Carabinieri TPC art squad, which monitored suspicious online art sales, leading to the raid of a property in the city's northern district. Among the seized items were not only completed and unfinished artworks but also a variety of materials such as paints, brushes, and forged certificates of authenticity. The investigation suggests that an art restorer was at the center of this forgery scheme, which is believed to have been ongoing for some time. Other artists whose works were counterfeited include Mario Puccini and Giacomo Balla. This incident follows a recent crackdown on a Europe-wide forgery network linked to similar counterfeit artworks.