January 25, 2021 - Droog Magazine periodical for investigative journalism

The Hitler Forgery Industry

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1988  |

"Hitler"auction in Louisville, Kentucky (USA).

On New Year's day 1988 an alleged Hitler watercolor was bought for $36,000 by Dr. Donald Wright, an internist from Louisville. The Washington Post: "The painting had been obtained for the Den of Steven Gallery by an Louisville art agent from a retired Michigan auto executive who demanded anonymity."

The work, measuring 9-by-15-inch (22,86 x 38,10 cm) is the same as Price 191, Alt-Wien mit Karlskirche, Wienfluß und Heldenbrücke, allegedly painted by Hitler in 1910-1912.


Click on image to enlarge.



Steven White, the gallery owner, stated that the painting's authenticity was fully documented. If so, then the documents accompanying this work must be regarded as fraudulent, as the work is an obvious forgery. For a number of reasons. 1: The Hitler signature on it is a fantasy one. 2:  The figures on it are unlike those on believed to be authentic Hitlers. 3: The dimensions are much larger than those of believed to be authentic Hitlers from his Viennese period.    

Please note: the dimensions given in Price are 24 x 32 cm (9,45 x 12,59 inch).

The Austrian swindler Peter Jahn issued a Certificate of Authenticity in English to this work, dated November 21, 1972. In it the work is titled "Old Vienna with Saint Charles, the "Wienfluss" and "Heldenbruecke"". The dimensions are the same as stated in Price. Given the fact that this CoA was written in English, it is highly likely that the work was sold in 1972 to an English speaking person.

The Washington Post reported too, in the article about this sale: "Hitler sold numerous paintings to support himself but ordered his works collected and destroyed after coming to power in the 1930s."

This sentence contains three myths: Hitler probably made and sold at the most some 150 watercolors in 1910-1914. The registering and collecting of the “Hitlers” was not Hitler’s own initiative, but that of the Hauptarchiv der NSDAP. There exists no evidence at all that Hitler ordered to have his watercolors destroyed in the 1930s.

Sources:

Billy F. Price [= August Priesack and Peter Jahn]. Adolf Hitler als Maler und Zeichner. Ein Werkkatalog der Ölgemälde, Aquarelle, Zeichnungen und Architekturskizzen. Gallant Verlag, Zug, 1983. English title Adolf Hitler. The unknown artist, 1984.
Please note: this book is the birthplace of many Hitler myths; consists of concoctions and many depictions of forged Hitlers watercolors, oil paintings, drawings and poems.
https://www.bartfmdroog.com/droog/niod/price.html

NN. Louisville doctor pays $36,000 for Hitler painting. The Washington Post, Washington, 02-01-1988.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1988/01/03/louisville-doctor-pays-36000-for-hitler-painting/5f74a59e-463d-4e8b-8ecf-1bc409a81439/

Getty Images; https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/watercolor-of-old-vienna-austria-by-adolf-hitler-whose-news-photo/50361409

Jaap van den Born and Bart FM Droog. Report on the Certificates of Authenticity issued by Peter Jahn. Bureau Droog, Eenrum, version 2.0, 25-01-2021,

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© Compilation Bart FM Droog, 2021.

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