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Con/Artist: The Life and Crimes of the World's Greatest Art Forger
The world’s most renowned art forger reveals the secrets behind his decades of painting like the masters—exposing an art world that is far more corrupt than we ever knew while providing an art history lesson wrapped in sex, drugs, and Caravaggio.
The art world is a much dirtier, nastier business than you might expect. Tony Tetro, one of the most renowned art forgers in history, will make you question every masterpiece you’ve ever seen in a museum, gallery, or private collection. Tetro’s “Rembrandts,” “Caravaggios,” “Miros,” and hundreds of other works now hang on walls around the globe. In 2019, it was revealed that Prince Charles received into his collection a Picasso, Dali, Monet, and Chagall, insuring them for over 200 million pounds, only to later discover that they’re actually “Tetros.” And the kicker? In Tony’s “Even if some tycoon finds out his Rembrandt is a fake, what’s he going to do, turn it in? Now his Rembrandt just became motel art. Better to keep quiet and pass it on to the next guy. It’s the way things work for guys like me.” The Prince Charles scandal is the subject of a forthcoming feature documentary with Academy Award nominee Kief Davidson and coauthor Giampiero Ambrosi, in cooperation with Tetro.
Throughout Tetro’s career, his inimitable talent has been coupled with a reckless penchant for drugs, fast cars, and sleeping with other con artists. He was busted in 1989 and spent four years in court and one in prison. His voice—rough, wry, deeply authentic—is nothing like the high society he swanned around in, driving his Lamborghini or Ferrari, hobnobbing with aristocrats by day, and diving into debauchery when the lights went out. He’s a former furniture store clerk who can walk around in Caravaggio’s shoes, become Picasso or Monet, with an encyclopedic understanding of their paint, their canvases, their vision. For years, he hid it all in an unassuming California townhouse with a secret art room behind a full-length mirror. (Press #* on his phone and the mirror pops open.) Pairing up with coauthor Ambrosi, one of the investigative journalists who uncovered the 2019 scandal, Tetro unveils the art world in an epic, alluring, at times unbelievable, but all-true narrative.
The art world is a much dirtier, nastier business than you might expect. Tony Tetro, one of the most renowned art forgers in history, will make you question every masterpiece you’ve ever seen in a museum, gallery, or private collection. Tetro’s “Rembrandts,” “Caravaggios,” “Miros,” and hundreds of other works now hang on walls around the globe. In 2019, it was revealed that Prince Charles received into his collection a Picasso, Dali, Monet, and Chagall, insuring them for over 200 million pounds, only to later discover that they’re actually “Tetros.” And the kicker? In Tony’s “Even if some tycoon finds out his Rembrandt is a fake, what’s he going to do, turn it in? Now his Rembrandt just became motel art. Better to keep quiet and pass it on to the next guy. It’s the way things work for guys like me.” The Prince Charles scandal is the subject of a forthcoming feature documentary with Academy Award nominee Kief Davidson and coauthor Giampiero Ambrosi, in cooperation with Tetro.
Throughout Tetro’s career, his inimitable talent has been coupled with a reckless penchant for drugs, fast cars, and sleeping with other con artists. He was busted in 1989 and spent four years in court and one in prison. His voice—rough, wry, deeply authentic—is nothing like the high society he swanned around in, driving his Lamborghini or Ferrari, hobnobbing with aristocrats by day, and diving into debauchery when the lights went out. He’s a former furniture store clerk who can walk around in Caravaggio’s shoes, become Picasso or Monet, with an encyclopedic understanding of their paint, their canvases, their vision. For years, he hid it all in an unassuming California townhouse with a secret art room behind a full-length mirror. (Press #* on his phone and the mirror pops open.) Pairing up with coauthor Ambrosi, one of the investigative journalists who uncovered the 2019 scandal, Tetro unveils the art world in an epic, alluring, at times unbelievable, but all-true narrative.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published November 22, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 328 reviews
November 8, 2023
Welcome to the wild west of art forgery in the 1970s and 1980s, where the money is lucrative as long as you have a certain base trait. That trait is, surprisingly, not being a master painter. This is the story of Tony Tetro, the “world’s greatest art forger.”
Tony grew up without a formal education, married at the ripe age of 16, and just like every other enterprising individual, he had a dream of “hitting it big” as a young man. What started out as a fun hobby transformed into a lucrative way to make money. After the glitz and glamour of owning his dream cars, having endless supplies of drugs, and schmoozing at top restaurants in L.A. fizzled out, Tony was left spending nearly a year in jail with little or no money left over to show for it.
I was surprised to find that this book reads like a how-to guide to art forgery, but do not get any wise ideas about using Tony’s tips and tricks. Nowadays, a painting can go under extreme scrutiny using incredibly interesting techniques, which are detailed in the book. Spectroscopic analysis can tell you which mine your pigments came from, dendroecology can reveal which type of wood your paint pallet originated from, and radiocarbon dating can measure the half-life of the carbon used in the painting.
A local would use an appraiser's loupe to check the DPI, or dots per square inch, to give an accurate idea if it was printed or completed by hand, but I was surprised to find out that most people, buyers and appraisers alike, really did not care if the painting was fake or not. The art was really not all that appreciated by most (I’m sure they were generalizing in the novel), but it was used to show off. All you needed was a sound story, a semi-convincing painting, an appraiser’s signature, and you were off to the races. This was pre-internet, so it was extremely hard to verify facts and paper trails.
Some of the other interesting topics include art history, where Tony obtained period paper, his aging techniques, his ties to the mob, the billionaires who hired him to create replicas, and details of the secret room where he stashed most of his paintings & workbooks.
Overall, it was an exciting novel that reads like a film. If you purchased a Rembrandt or Chagall a few decades ago, you might want to go take a closer look. 🎨
📝 | Extra | 📝’s
❖ His aging process was brilliant. He would mix cigarette buts and dust with water to make a slurry and then apply that to the canvas. After baking the piece at a local pizza place and rolling it, natural cracks would form and the pigments would yellow.
🎵| Soundtrack |🎵
❖ Don McLean - Vincent
❖ Nat King Cole - Mona Lisa
❖ Adele – Painting Pictures
⭐ | Rating | ⭐
❖ 4 out of 5
Non-fiction November so far:
Memoir: Con/Artist.
Tony grew up without a formal education, married at the ripe age of 16, and just like every other enterprising individual, he had a dream of “hitting it big” as a young man. What started out as a fun hobby transformed into a lucrative way to make money. After the glitz and glamour of owning his dream cars, having endless supplies of drugs, and schmoozing at top restaurants in L.A. fizzled out, Tony was left spending nearly a year in jail with little or no money left over to show for it.
I was surprised to find that this book reads like a how-to guide to art forgery, but do not get any wise ideas about using Tony’s tips and tricks. Nowadays, a painting can go under extreme scrutiny using incredibly interesting techniques, which are detailed in the book. Spectroscopic analysis can tell you which mine your pigments came from, dendroecology can reveal which type of wood your paint pallet originated from, and radiocarbon dating can measure the half-life of the carbon used in the painting.
A local would use an appraiser's loupe to check the DPI, or dots per square inch, to give an accurate idea if it was printed or completed by hand, but I was surprised to find out that most people, buyers and appraisers alike, really did not care if the painting was fake or not. The art was really not all that appreciated by most (I’m sure they were generalizing in the novel), but it was used to show off. All you needed was a sound story, a semi-convincing painting, an appraiser’s signature, and you were off to the races. This was pre-internet, so it was extremely hard to verify facts and paper trails.
Some of the other interesting topics include art history, where Tony obtained period paper, his aging techniques, his ties to the mob, the billionaires who hired him to create replicas, and details of the secret room where he stashed most of his paintings & workbooks.
Overall, it was an exciting novel that reads like a film. If you purchased a Rembrandt or Chagall a few decades ago, you might want to go take a closer look. 🎨
📝 | Extra | 📝’s
❖ His aging process was brilliant. He would mix cigarette buts and dust with water to make a slurry and then apply that to the canvas. After baking the piece at a local pizza place and rolling it, natural cracks would form and the pigments would yellow.
🎵| Soundtrack |🎵
❖ Don McLean - Vincent
❖ Nat King Cole - Mona Lisa
❖ Adele – Painting Pictures
⭐ | Rating | ⭐
❖ 4 out of 5
Non-fiction November so far:
Memoir: Con/Artist.
March 7, 2023
As an art lover I find the world of fake art fascinating.
In this book Mr. Tetro I’m sure was grinning with every word he wrote, patting himself on the back as to how smart he is. He offers up a comprehensive look at the methods he used to con people and while I must agree that some of those methods were clever (fortunately none would work today) I see him as more of a con artist rather than an art forger.
The writing comes across as someone who is so pleased with himself and all his ‘accomplishments’ having got away with his con for so long that he really does envision himself as “the world’s greatest art forger” – which he is not. He is just a little too full of himself for my liking.
The movie “The Last Vermeer” (2019) tells the story of one of the truly greatest art forgers: Han van Meegeren. Tetro doesn’t even come close.
Mr. Tetro, the fact that you conned a lot of people does not make you the worlds greatest anything.
The book is readable enough for me to rate it 3-stars but I wish to note I did not buy this book, I got it from my library so I have not added one cent to Mr. Tetro’s coffers.
In this book Mr. Tetro I’m sure was grinning with every word he wrote, patting himself on the back as to how smart he is. He offers up a comprehensive look at the methods he used to con people and while I must agree that some of those methods were clever (fortunately none would work today) I see him as more of a con artist rather than an art forger.
The writing comes across as someone who is so pleased with himself and all his ‘accomplishments’ having got away with his con for so long that he really does envision himself as “the world’s greatest art forger” – which he is not. He is just a little too full of himself for my liking.
The movie “The Last Vermeer” (2019) tells the story of one of the truly greatest art forgers: Han van Meegeren. Tetro doesn’t even come close.
Mr. Tetro, the fact that you conned a lot of people does not make you the worlds greatest anything.
The book is readable enough for me to rate it 3-stars but I wish to note I did not buy this book, I got it from my library so I have not added one cent to Mr. Tetro’s coffers.
October 18, 2022
Wow! I loved this book— so much so I read it all in one day. Con/Artist is the compulsively readable memoir of Tony Tetro, the most prolific art forger of the twentieth century. This book chronicles his (very interesting) life and details how exactly he got into and refined his art forgeries. This book reminded me so much of The Wolf of Wallstreet and Catch Me if You Can. It reads almost like a period piece of the 1970s/1980s excesses. While aspects of the book do come off as name dropping or braggy, I did appreciate the respect that he gave the mother of his daughter in describing her role in his life. Overall, I think this book is really fun, informative, and eye opening. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys art, true crime, and intrigue.
Shoutout to Hatchette Books for sending me this as an ARC to read and review.
Shoutout to Hatchette Books for sending me this as an ARC to read and review.
December 7, 2022
This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was incredibly interesting! I don’t read a lot of non-fiction but every once in a while I come across a book that calls to me and I feel compelled to pick it up. I have no idea why I was drawn to this book since I don’t really pay attention to art but I am so glad that I decided to give it a try. I was captivated by Tony Tetro’s story and didn’t want to stop reading once I started.
If you had asked me what an art forger does before picking up this book, my answer would have been very different than it is now that I have read it. It is not just the process of copying art. I learned that provenance is even more important than the actual art being made. Mr. Tetro went to a lot of work establishing provenance for his pieces which is one reason he was so successful. It was very eye-opening to learn what went into making a piece look older than it really was. I was surprised that I was able to relate to Mr. Tetro because I too tend to almost obsess over problems until I figure out a solution. I guess it is a good thing that the things I am usually trying to figure out are much tamer than those Mr. Tetro dealt with.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narration was very well done. Richard Ferrone handled the bulk of the narration and I thought that he helped bring the book to life. I really felt like I was right there listening to Mr. Tetro tell me exactly how he did what he did for so many years. I thought that the narrators had very pleasant voices which added to my overall enjoyment of the story.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a very interesting and sometimes thought-provoking look at a crime that I never really considered before. There were a few times in the book when I felt like the author’s point of view was somewhat biased. I will definitely look at art a little differently after reading this book.
I received a review copy of this book from Hachette Books and purchased a copy of the audiobook.
Initial Thoughts
This was incredibly interesting! I don't read a lot of non-fiction but every once in a while I come across a book that just calls to me as this one did. I am not a huge fan of art and wouldn't consider myself artistic in any way but I couldn't stop listening to Tony Tetro's story of his life as an Art Forger. A whole lot of work went into what he did and there were times that I could easily relate to his desire to figure everything out. I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrator did a fantastic job with this book.
This was incredibly interesting! I don’t read a lot of non-fiction but every once in a while I come across a book that calls to me and I feel compelled to pick it up. I have no idea why I was drawn to this book since I don’t really pay attention to art but I am so glad that I decided to give it a try. I was captivated by Tony Tetro’s story and didn’t want to stop reading once I started.
If you had asked me what an art forger does before picking up this book, my answer would have been very different than it is now that I have read it. It is not just the process of copying art. I learned that provenance is even more important than the actual art being made. Mr. Tetro went to a lot of work establishing provenance for his pieces which is one reason he was so successful. It was very eye-opening to learn what went into making a piece look older than it really was. I was surprised that I was able to relate to Mr. Tetro because I too tend to almost obsess over problems until I figure out a solution. I guess it is a good thing that the things I am usually trying to figure out are much tamer than those Mr. Tetro dealt with.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narration was very well done. Richard Ferrone handled the bulk of the narration and I thought that he helped bring the book to life. I really felt like I was right there listening to Mr. Tetro tell me exactly how he did what he did for so many years. I thought that the narrators had very pleasant voices which added to my overall enjoyment of the story.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a very interesting and sometimes thought-provoking look at a crime that I never really considered before. There were a few times in the book when I felt like the author’s point of view was somewhat biased. I will definitely look at art a little differently after reading this book.
I received a review copy of this book from Hachette Books and purchased a copy of the audiobook.
Initial Thoughts
This was incredibly interesting! I don't read a lot of non-fiction but every once in a while I come across a book that just calls to me as this one did. I am not a huge fan of art and wouldn't consider myself artistic in any way but I couldn't stop listening to Tony Tetro's story of his life as an Art Forger. A whole lot of work went into what he did and there were times that I could easily relate to his desire to figure everything out. I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrator did a fantastic job with this book.
March 12, 2023
Tony Tetro writes with a matter of fact prose that reads like you’re listening to an old friend recalling his wild story. I enjoyed his candor throughout the book some people may be offended by his use of language. He lived his life in excess, fast cars, lavish vacations drugs. What stuck with me was Tony’s reverence for the famous artists his paintings emulated. What set him apart from other art forgeries was the detail that he applied to each and every one of his paintings. He meticulously crafted each painting through hours of studying each artist’s techniques and with experimentation you’d be hard pressed to tell the real painting from Tony’s forgeries..He admits to todays scientific advancements in would reveal his works of art to be forgeries, but he had a long and successful run throughout the 70’s and 80’s. This non-fiction story reads like something straight out of Hollywood, making it an insightful and entertaining read.
I would like to thank Hachette books and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
I would like to thank Hachette books and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
January 22, 2023
What an incredibly fascinating read! I thought this was about a guy who stole art, but instead it was about an art forger and I learned so much about what that entails and how much the real artists look the other way. Tony Tetro was a successful art forger and made a name for himself forging some of the greats. I mean, even King Charles had some of his work and didn’t know it until later. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, the audio was great and I highly recommend it for those that love true crime as well as those that don’t, I think it is so fascinating that many will enjoy this one.
Thank you to Hachette Books for the ARC to review. This one is available now.
Thank you to Hachette Books for the ARC to review. This one is available now.
January 13, 2023
This was so interesting to me that nearly the entire read mesmerized. He is probably not even 95% honest, but he can't be. He is as honest as he CAN be. His life is so outlier that it is truly stating only 1/100th of the iceberg that is Tony Tetro and his art skills career- to cover the immense detail involvement in not only his path but all the processes.
He is 1st generation as I am and from people in the very same origins' area. But easier climates both sides of the ocean, IMHO. He started in life work selling furniture and doing any job he could find quite young. Same here.
But Tony could draw. And he could paint. And also had an engineer's eye for detail and for power/movement. Be it the power of light and dark or the power within a Lamborghini original. And there is nothing he likes better than both of those obsessions rather than to figure out and practice and produce "how it was done". And to see if he could do it. Equal. Or better.
I learned more about etching and lithographs than in any other book I've read. And also why some of the Old Masters were never given the proper respect they should have. Way back in the 1950's and 1960's I always thought that Caravaggio was immensely underrated. And of course Rembrandt.
If you read one memoir this year- read this one. Learn something. This is exactly why old art books have to be locked down and not open to the public in most libraries.
If you want some real eyes into the modern day Art World of sales and auction etc. OMG- you need to read this. At least one third of all the works in museums and everywhere has been successfully provenance provided and fully or partially faked.
With all the cellular level analysis that they have to offer now, this is nearly impossible compared to 30 or 40 years ago. But not entirely.
This read is not for everyone. You need to have immense patience for process and learning detail upon detail upon detail.
I thought some of his solutions were on a par with nuclear fusion research. And his core "love life"? What do you think Laura was going to propose? I guessed it.
And what an ultimately strange personality and value system Tony has. You truly know what "his fun" includes. Solving a riddle of possibility quite beyond just owning the Italian race cars. And being sent back down to base 1 and zero stage homelessness? Hardly. That made me laugh. His associations alone are better than the Pope's or the President's. Any president.
After you finish this- think about the values on the whole. Just think for at least 15 minutes of pure meditation. What difference does it make? Some of his Picasso, Miro, and especially Dali are BETTER than the ones who held pure authenticity. Not only my opinion.
His condo sounded out of this world. I would have loved to have seen it once during the 1980's heydey. I was going to Vegas then but never to CA. I would have paid to see it. For sure.
He is 1st generation as I am and from people in the very same origins' area. But easier climates both sides of the ocean, IMHO. He started in life work selling furniture and doing any job he could find quite young. Same here.
But Tony could draw. And he could paint. And also had an engineer's eye for detail and for power/movement. Be it the power of light and dark or the power within a Lamborghini original. And there is nothing he likes better than both of those obsessions rather than to figure out and practice and produce "how it was done". And to see if he could do it. Equal. Or better.
I learned more about etching and lithographs than in any other book I've read. And also why some of the Old Masters were never given the proper respect they should have. Way back in the 1950's and 1960's I always thought that Caravaggio was immensely underrated. And of course Rembrandt.
If you read one memoir this year- read this one. Learn something. This is exactly why old art books have to be locked down and not open to the public in most libraries.
If you want some real eyes into the modern day Art World of sales and auction etc. OMG- you need to read this. At least one third of all the works in museums and everywhere has been successfully provenance provided and fully or partially faked.
With all the cellular level analysis that they have to offer now, this is nearly impossible compared to 30 or 40 years ago. But not entirely.
This read is not for everyone. You need to have immense patience for process and learning detail upon detail upon detail.
I thought some of his solutions were on a par with nuclear fusion research. And his core "love life"? What do you think Laura was going to propose? I guessed it.
And what an ultimately strange personality and value system Tony has. You truly know what "his fun" includes. Solving a riddle of possibility quite beyond just owning the Italian race cars. And being sent back down to base 1 and zero stage homelessness? Hardly. That made me laugh. His associations alone are better than the Pope's or the President's. Any president.
After you finish this- think about the values on the whole. Just think for at least 15 minutes of pure meditation. What difference does it make? Some of his Picasso, Miro, and especially Dali are BETTER than the ones who held pure authenticity. Not only my opinion.
His condo sounded out of this world. I would have loved to have seen it once during the 1980's heydey. I was going to Vegas then but never to CA. I would have paid to see it. For sure.
December 1, 2024
A rollicking tale of forgery, fakes, and scams. One of the better “confessions of a former con artist” memoirs I’ve read. No idea how much is true, but it’s a good yarn—and that’s what we’re all here for anyway.
July 31, 2022
This book makes the integrity of the art world collapse with every page.
You will immediately question every piece you’ve seen in a home, gallery, or museum throughout the world. Con/Artist is a fast, easy read that focuses on the career of Tony Tetro as an art forager. What amazed me more than anything was that no one really cared about the authenticity of the paintings they purchased from him. If a dealer thought they could sell it, they would buy it from Tony with full knowledge it was a fake.
Tony tells the story in very simple language with no need for flourish. It reads like you’re sitting down with him at a bar as he tells you how he dodged getting caught for years thanks to talent, wits, and a secret room. He talks about living in the fast lane—literally. Tony is also a car enthusiast who purchases Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Rolls-Royces at the drop of a hat. Many think he’s a drug dealer at the height of his career. In reality, he’s only selling illegal imitations of famous artists’ works and doing lines of cocaine with other shady art dealers.
You’ll learn how he got started, what motivated him to become a forger, and how he hit the major highs and lows that anyone participating in questionable activity would experience. It’s certainly worth a read. But be prepared to never look at art the same way again.
You will immediately question every piece you’ve seen in a home, gallery, or museum throughout the world. Con/Artist is a fast, easy read that focuses on the career of Tony Tetro as an art forager. What amazed me more than anything was that no one really cared about the authenticity of the paintings they purchased from him. If a dealer thought they could sell it, they would buy it from Tony with full knowledge it was a fake.
Tony tells the story in very simple language with no need for flourish. It reads like you’re sitting down with him at a bar as he tells you how he dodged getting caught for years thanks to talent, wits, and a secret room. He talks about living in the fast lane—literally. Tony is also a car enthusiast who purchases Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Rolls-Royces at the drop of a hat. Many think he’s a drug dealer at the height of his career. In reality, he’s only selling illegal imitations of famous artists’ works and doing lines of cocaine with other shady art dealers.
You’ll learn how he got started, what motivated him to become a forger, and how he hit the major highs and lows that anyone participating in questionable activity would experience. It’s certainly worth a read. But be prepared to never look at art the same way again.
January 23, 2023
Fun read! A life straight out of the movies 👨🏻🎨
December 12, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Books for accepting my request to read and review Con/Artist.
Author: Tony Tetro; Giampiero Ambrosi
Published: 11/22/22
Genre: True Crime
I'm not sure people will understand how much I enjoyed this book. A good book checks all my emotions. I was not disappointed. The synopsis is clear. In a nut shell, where there is big money, there is corruption.
Tetro took his painting talent to work. The book shows how forgery is more than painting. I did enjoy how techniques of aging were done then versus now. Now with computers, Tetro states more than once his techniques would not work today. Tetro painted well, researched and practiced to master all the techniques he needed to make a sale.
There were good times, bad and lean times with cash. He didn't make the job glamorous.
There is a lot of profanity. I would give 3.5 stars, but not rounding up. The story is good; the profanity limits the audience.
Author: Tony Tetro; Giampiero Ambrosi
Published: 11/22/22
Genre: True Crime
I'm not sure people will understand how much I enjoyed this book. A good book checks all my emotions. I was not disappointed. The synopsis is clear. In a nut shell, where there is big money, there is corruption.
Tetro took his painting talent to work. The book shows how forgery is more than painting. I did enjoy how techniques of aging were done then versus now. Now with computers, Tetro states more than once his techniques would not work today. Tetro painted well, researched and practiced to master all the techniques he needed to make a sale.
There were good times, bad and lean times with cash. He didn't make the job glamorous.
There is a lot of profanity. I would give 3.5 stars, but not rounding up. The story is good; the profanity limits the audience.
July 6, 2023
Con/Artist describes the rise and fall of Tony Tetro, a prolific art forger who eventually is caught and goes to jail. Not gonna lie, this was an interesting read for a while, but I got really tired of the book and Tony as it went on.
The first part of the book is, in fact, interesting. Prior to reading this book, I knew basically nothing about the making of art, appraisal thereof, and the surrounding general art world. The lengths to which Tetro went to fake art, as well as the ingenious techniques he used, were fascinating. It was abundantly clear that Tetro was in it for the money, but also for his pride--forging was an art in and of itself, and being able to passably fake artwork was quite literally a personal challenge. He left no stone unturned in his quest to mimic art.
It also was an eye-opener into the art world and how ... vain it can be. Tetro mimicked the style of famous artists and passed it off as "lost work," which then got appraised at princely sums. Isn't it arguable to assume being deemed "good art" is, in fact, a total fluke? Tetro's work was only valuable because it was passed off as Picasso or Dalí; if it hadn't, it would have been worth far less, despite nothing else being different. "Good" art is subjective, relationship-based, and a lot of luck. I was also struck by just how corrupt the art world was. Most dealers Tetro dealt with knew he was a forger, but no one seemed to care and happily swindled art buyers. That Tetro lasted as long as he did baffles me.
Ultimately, though, Tetro is a hard person to like, and it makes the book hard to like. At no point, and I mean truly no point, does he ever express any remorse, at all. Tetro is all about money, sex, and ego, and other people are of interest to him to the extent they can benefit him. Tetro wrote plenty about how awful it was to be stiffed, to have to sell his cars, to have to spend time in jail, oh no, but never does he mention how scores of people were duped and spent thousands on his work. He looks upon the Japanese artist whose work he forged with disdain, and even has the audacity to suggest he has made the Japanese artist even more famous as result of the forgery. Wow. Later, he squeals on a rich client passing his work off as real not because Tetro has developed any kind of remorse, but because he deems his rich client's lies as amateurish.
I got tired of the book towards the end because I got tired of Tetro. If he had a redemption arc, the book would have been alright, but he didn't. He bragged until the very end. Next.
The first part of the book is, in fact, interesting. Prior to reading this book, I knew basically nothing about the making of art, appraisal thereof, and the surrounding general art world. The lengths to which Tetro went to fake art, as well as the ingenious techniques he used, were fascinating. It was abundantly clear that Tetro was in it for the money, but also for his pride--forging was an art in and of itself, and being able to passably fake artwork was quite literally a personal challenge. He left no stone unturned in his quest to mimic art.
It also was an eye-opener into the art world and how ... vain it can be. Tetro mimicked the style of famous artists and passed it off as "lost work," which then got appraised at princely sums. Isn't it arguable to assume being deemed "good art" is, in fact, a total fluke? Tetro's work was only valuable because it was passed off as Picasso or Dalí; if it hadn't, it would have been worth far less, despite nothing else being different. "Good" art is subjective, relationship-based, and a lot of luck. I was also struck by just how corrupt the art world was. Most dealers Tetro dealt with knew he was a forger, but no one seemed to care and happily swindled art buyers. That Tetro lasted as long as he did baffles me.
Ultimately, though, Tetro is a hard person to like, and it makes the book hard to like. At no point, and I mean truly no point, does he ever express any remorse, at all. Tetro is all about money, sex, and ego, and other people are of interest to him to the extent they can benefit him. Tetro wrote plenty about how awful it was to be stiffed, to have to sell his cars, to have to spend time in jail, oh no, but never does he mention how scores of people were duped and spent thousands on his work. He looks upon the Japanese artist whose work he forged with disdain, and even has the audacity to suggest he has made the Japanese artist even more famous as result of the forgery. Wow. Later, he squeals on a rich client passing his work off as real not because Tetro has developed any kind of remorse, but because he deems his rich client's lies as amateurish.
I got tired of the book towards the end because I got tired of Tetro. If he had a redemption arc, the book would have been alright, but he didn't. He bragged until the very end. Next.
January 7, 2023
As someone who watches every scammer doc that goes on Netflix and absolutely prioritizes the art ones I was so excited to read this. It probably would be more enjoyable as a documentary with video and photo support. It was fairly dry and almost unbelievable? I just didn’t care about him or the art and the writing is dull.
March 25, 2024
Audiobook read by Richard Fannone and Tony Tetro
08:24
Con/Artist reads like if Henry Hill was an art forger and Richard Fannone's excellent narration makes it sound like Goodfellas.
Tony Tetro recounts his life and crimes as the 'world's greatest art forger'. This story has everything a good con artist story could want including secret rooms, fast cars, mysterious women, masterpieces, clever heists, big scores and encroaching justice.
Tetro puts as much or more work into building provenance for his pieces as the paintings themselves and that's a fascinating process in itself.
This book is a lot of fun for art lovers and true crime fans
08:24
Con/Artist reads like if Henry Hill was an art forger and Richard Fannone's excellent narration makes it sound like Goodfellas.
Tony Tetro recounts his life and crimes as the 'world's greatest art forger'. This story has everything a good con artist story could want including secret rooms, fast cars, mysterious women, masterpieces, clever heists, big scores and encroaching justice.
Tetro puts as much or more work into building provenance for his pieces as the paintings themselves and that's a fascinating process in itself.
This book is a lot of fun for art lovers and true crime fans
June 19, 2023
Nesmierne zaujímavá biografia o falšovateľovi umenia! Pozve vás za oponu biznisu s umením; prekvapí, čo dobré falšovanie umenia vlastne znamená; ukáže techniky ako na to; uzemní, prečo by to dnes už nešlo. K tomu život Tonyho v LA, kde si prešiel svoje ups&downs. Čítanie to bolo rýchle a dynamické a najmä som si ho veľmi užila. Zaujme milovníkov aj nemilovníkov umenia. :) Odporúčam!
December 22, 2023
just goes to show you can always succeed in life if you work hard and also are the most talented painter of all time
July 6, 2023
Tetro led an interesting and textured life. I couldn’t help but dislike the guy. This book read like a parade of his excesses, good fortunes, and cringey arrogance. I feel dirty having supported him even minutely by purchasing this book. It was a unique insight to the ritzy art community though.
June 25, 2023
It was a good story, not the best writing.
December 11, 2023
I found the world of fake art fascinating. Tony tetro clearly thinks highly of himself but never overdoes it to where I was rolling my eyes while reading. He was so meticulous and good with his forgeries i had to think at some point that once you have your name out there just make ur own damn work
March 13, 2023
Should be made into a movie
Tony had a blast of a life and the way he talks about art is such an inspiration
Tony had a blast of a life and the way he talks about art is such an inspiration
November 21, 2022
Con/Artist: The Life and Crimes of the World’s Greatest Art Forger by Tony Tetro and Giampiero Ambrosi is a blunt & interesting memoir of the life of Tony Tetro, including entering the world as an adult, discovering his talent for art, honing his skill, an array of jobs, his stumble into art forgery, the highs & lows that came with it & eventually, the after post downfall.
I would like to add that my art knowledge is bare minimal. I was absolutely charmed & entertained by the TV show White Collar, which is about an art forger, so when I read this blurb I was intrigued.
It discussed the avenues for which art dealing & art forging takes place. I was fascinated to learn about art deals, especially in the pre-Internet days & was amazed of the complexity of deceit, which contained things I would never even think of. A lot of the actual artist & painting names that were discussed went over my uneducated head, but would probably really interest art lovers. I liked the sections that discussed art techniques & the processes which were required to make specific things.
I really enjoyed the second half of the book which took place after the arrest & the events that follow. It seems like humbleness was to be found in the midst of his downfall & I appreciated the tone shift that took place. The first part of the book shined a light on greed & the “fast life” that comes with success, such as fancy cars, houses & travel. I found the repetitive mentions of wealth tiring, but I understand that was his reality. I appreciated when his priorities seemed to change & made my interest pique.
I was completely fascinated by the ending & his connection to actual royalty. That was something I had no idea about going into the book & am curious to research into after.
If you are in the mood for a memoir or enjoy true crime books, I would check out Con/Artist for a interesting & quick read!
Massive thanks to Hachette Books for the gifted physical arc & finished copy, which I voluntarily read & reviewed. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
I would like to add that my art knowledge is bare minimal. I was absolutely charmed & entertained by the TV show White Collar, which is about an art forger, so when I read this blurb I was intrigued.
It discussed the avenues for which art dealing & art forging takes place. I was fascinated to learn about art deals, especially in the pre-Internet days & was amazed of the complexity of deceit, which contained things I would never even think of. A lot of the actual artist & painting names that were discussed went over my uneducated head, but would probably really interest art lovers. I liked the sections that discussed art techniques & the processes which were required to make specific things.
I really enjoyed the second half of the book which took place after the arrest & the events that follow. It seems like humbleness was to be found in the midst of his downfall & I appreciated the tone shift that took place. The first part of the book shined a light on greed & the “fast life” that comes with success, such as fancy cars, houses & travel. I found the repetitive mentions of wealth tiring, but I understand that was his reality. I appreciated when his priorities seemed to change & made my interest pique.
I was completely fascinated by the ending & his connection to actual royalty. That was something I had no idea about going into the book & am curious to research into after.
If you are in the mood for a memoir or enjoy true crime books, I would check out Con/Artist for a interesting & quick read!
Massive thanks to Hachette Books for the gifted physical arc & finished copy, which I voluntarily read & reviewed. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
March 28, 2023
I did not finish this book, but read roughly two thirds of it. It left a very bad aftertaste.
The topic is endlessly fascinating, the person it revolves around flat-out repulsive.
Tetro thinks he's the shit, and remorse is a concept he appears to not bother with. Had this been about some Ponzi Scheme or other shifty "business" that victimized "the little guy," I cannot imagine the positive reactions this book has received. People would be absolutely disgusted and appalled by Tetro - justifiably so. Instead, I think it works as well as it does for people because we're often too entertained by stories where wealthier people get screwed over.
Add to that that the writing is at best "meh," and this is a book I would have been better off not finding. Read at your own risk.
The topic is endlessly fascinating, the person it revolves around flat-out repulsive.
Tetro thinks he's the shit, and remorse is a concept he appears to not bother with. Had this been about some Ponzi Scheme or other shifty "business" that victimized "the little guy," I cannot imagine the positive reactions this book has received. People would be absolutely disgusted and appalled by Tetro - justifiably so. Instead, I think it works as well as it does for people because we're often too entertained by stories where wealthier people get screwed over.
Add to that that the writing is at best "meh," and this is a book I would have been better off not finding. Read at your own risk.
November 24, 2022
I really really enjoyed reading this one. I couldn’t put this book down. I was hooked from beginning to end. The author did an excellent job writing this book. The whole story was good. I highly recommend everyone read this book
January 16, 2023
Unremorseful criminal bastard writing about his exploits, bragging how he got away with most of it while living a highfalutin life, then feeling sorry for himself when his luck ran out. Feeling filthy for having read this book. It is not even well written.
December 24, 2022
Totally not impressed with this con/artist. Probably a great artist but also a sleeze bag.
December 30, 2022
DNF at 38%.
December 28, 2022
Working-class kid from a small New York state mill-and-factory town with an eye for art lights out for California to seek his fortune. And boy, does he find it - for a couple of decades. Tony Tetro had a gift for drawing copies of pictures: he could make copies so precise his brother accused him of tracing them… until Tony pointed out his own version was bigger than the original. Settled in a cheap apartment in southern California, working as a furniture salesman to support his teenaged wife and baby daughter, Tony haunts museums, and practices making perfect copies of Rembrandt, Monet, and Picasso. He truly reveres Caravaggio. He cold-calls on galleries in swankier parts of town with them (signed as Tetros), and gets nowhere. Then, inspired by a chance discovery of Clifford Irving’s bestseller Fake! on a grocery store rack, he painstakingly creates a fake Chagall drawing, signing it with the name of Irving’s master forger, Elmyr de Hory. With a story of a dead grandfather, he offers it to a dealer, who smiles knowingly and writes him a check, asking if his grandfather might have anything else in store. Tony hawks a fake Modigliani to another dealer, who falls for it… at first. When the dealer finds out he’s been had, he comes back with an offer: “You’re gonna work for me now.” He shows him a couple of kitschy landscapes that could be found hanging on every late 60’s motel in America and says, “Think you could do some of these?” He can. He does. He’s on his way.
He churns out Chagalls, Dalis, whatever the market will bear. The prices go up. He’s got all the work he can do. The money rolls in. He has all kinds of friends and connections. All-night parties at swank restaurants? Check. Gallons of booze; bushels of cocaine? Check. Breathtakingly expensive Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Maseratis? Check. (Did you know you could actually forge a Ferrari? Tony Tetro does, and he did it.) A long string of women lining up at the bar? Check.
What’s amazing is how easy it all was, to hear Tony tell it. When he needed a pro to help him solve a technical printing issue, he calls a local printer out of the phone book and presto! He has two willing experts who help him fake hundreds of images, up to and almost over the brink into some serious currency counterfeiting. Need a builder for a secret room in your condo to paint your forgeries and store all the fake documents in? A few phone calls and he has one - who also helps him empty and strip the room after a police search failed to find it…. If you had any doubts about how utterly corrupt, greedy, dishonest, and self-serving the art market is, this book will erase them. And Tony Tetro benefited from, nay, enjoyed every minute of it. He doesn’t sound the least bit sorry. And it wasn’t all easy - he loved doing the paintings, but says the really hard part was fabricating the provenance and documentation necessary to convince a dealer, a curator, or a customer about authenticity. His research is serious and detailed in developing the plausible, corroborated stories needed (with a little help from faked certificates, forged signatures, even art books with illustrations sliced out and replaced with his versions).
Till - of course - it all falls apart. One stupid mistake by one dealer spreads in the media to wash up against others; a second stupid mistake by Tony’s dealer sinks him. The tale becomes one of downfall, confession, and reformation. Broke, gutted, he spends 9 months painting traffic safety posters for LA County, and teaches city kids how to paint murals. Under minimal security, he genuinely liked the kids - coulda been worse. After all, when he says he barely had enough to eat, he just sold off that $3000 watch sitting in a drawer. And now he’s gone straight. Now he jets around the globe painting “legitimate” copies for obscenely wealthy and egregiously creepy billionaires, appears on “Fake or Genuine?” TV shows, and vacations in Costa Rica at will. Plus he's famous (though he regrets all the dough he lost on that forged Ferrari). His website is replete with side-by-side pictures of his versions of famous original works (and a LOT of comments like: “Hey! Tony! Remember me? We used to hang out at [insert bar here]!”) He gets paid to do what he truly does love to do - paint. So, see, it all kind of turned out okay.
An odd and roistering mixture of honesty and self-serving, and a really ugly look at the world of art dealing. Even high priests of top-flight art historical study and major museums are not immune - not that they ever were. Fascinating in a queasy way. But definitely recommended for anyone with an interest in art, art history, and a curiosity as to how the fakers do their tricks.
** Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.**
He churns out Chagalls, Dalis, whatever the market will bear. The prices go up. He’s got all the work he can do. The money rolls in. He has all kinds of friends and connections. All-night parties at swank restaurants? Check. Gallons of booze; bushels of cocaine? Check. Breathtakingly expensive Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Maseratis? Check. (Did you know you could actually forge a Ferrari? Tony Tetro does, and he did it.) A long string of women lining up at the bar? Check.
What’s amazing is how easy it all was, to hear Tony tell it. When he needed a pro to help him solve a technical printing issue, he calls a local printer out of the phone book and presto! He has two willing experts who help him fake hundreds of images, up to and almost over the brink into some serious currency counterfeiting. Need a builder for a secret room in your condo to paint your forgeries and store all the fake documents in? A few phone calls and he has one - who also helps him empty and strip the room after a police search failed to find it…. If you had any doubts about how utterly corrupt, greedy, dishonest, and self-serving the art market is, this book will erase them. And Tony Tetro benefited from, nay, enjoyed every minute of it. He doesn’t sound the least bit sorry. And it wasn’t all easy - he loved doing the paintings, but says the really hard part was fabricating the provenance and documentation necessary to convince a dealer, a curator, or a customer about authenticity. His research is serious and detailed in developing the plausible, corroborated stories needed (with a little help from faked certificates, forged signatures, even art books with illustrations sliced out and replaced with his versions).
Till - of course - it all falls apart. One stupid mistake by one dealer spreads in the media to wash up against others; a second stupid mistake by Tony’s dealer sinks him. The tale becomes one of downfall, confession, and reformation. Broke, gutted, he spends 9 months painting traffic safety posters for LA County, and teaches city kids how to paint murals. Under minimal security, he genuinely liked the kids - coulda been worse. After all, when he says he barely had enough to eat, he just sold off that $3000 watch sitting in a drawer. And now he’s gone straight. Now he jets around the globe painting “legitimate” copies for obscenely wealthy and egregiously creepy billionaires, appears on “Fake or Genuine?” TV shows, and vacations in Costa Rica at will. Plus he's famous (though he regrets all the dough he lost on that forged Ferrari). His website is replete with side-by-side pictures of his versions of famous original works (and a LOT of comments like: “Hey! Tony! Remember me? We used to hang out at [insert bar here]!”) He gets paid to do what he truly does love to do - paint. So, see, it all kind of turned out okay.
An odd and roistering mixture of honesty and self-serving, and a really ugly look at the world of art dealing. Even high priests of top-flight art historical study and major museums are not immune - not that they ever were. Fascinating in a queasy way. But definitely recommended for anyone with an interest in art, art history, and a curiosity as to how the fakers do their tricks.
** Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.**
November 23, 2022
I've always thought that my reading mood changes with the season, and that's certainly been true this month. I've mostly put down my usual thrillers in favor of more non-fiction titles. The latest to catch my eye is Con/Artist by notorious art forger Tony Tetro and his co-author Giampiero Ambrosi. Tetro's publisher was kind enough to send me a review copy of the book just ahead of its publication today. I was instantly intrigued by the idea of learning about the dark underworld of the art world. I was surprised to learn just how much crime permeated that field.
No one sets out to be a criminal. Certainly, the idea never crossed young Tony's mind. He grew up in small-town New York, the kind of place that's heyday was way behind it. He had an affinity for art, honing his skills through school and practice. Still, he never saw art as a viable career option. Real life came at Tony fast. By the age of 16, he was a father. He married soon after and was ready to try to make something out of his life. This yearning saw him move to the west coast. Tony did odd jobs like selling furniture, but this just wasn't enough to support his young family.
It started innocently enough, the mere spark of an idea that would go on to shape the rest of Tony's life. He turned to his art, crafting a small sketch modeled in the style of a lesser-known artistic master. Armed with this simple drawing and a story about cleaning out his late grandfather's attic, Tony sold the sketch to an art dealer. From that moment on, Tony's life would never be the same. He would go on to meticulously forge are in the style of some of the best-known artists to ever touch paint to canvas. Along the way, he would become filthy rich and have to grapple with all the nefarious implications of criminally obtained wealth.
Con/Artist reads like a classic gangster movie. Think Goodfellas mixed with Oceans Eleven. Tony Tetro writes with a matter of fact prose that reads like you're listening to an old friend recall his wild story. He doesn't hold back. With the money comes fast cars, lavish vacations, and plenty of drugs. What really struck me was Tetro's reverence for those artists his painting emulated. The thing that set him apart from other forgers was his attention to detail. He meticulously crafted each painting through hours of study and experimentation. Tetro admits that the scientific advancements of today would immediately reveal his works to be fake, but his run in the 70s and 80s is remarkable to learn about. This non-fiction reads like something straight out of the movies, making it an insightful and ceaselessly entertaining read.
No one sets out to be a criminal. Certainly, the idea never crossed young Tony's mind. He grew up in small-town New York, the kind of place that's heyday was way behind it. He had an affinity for art, honing his skills through school and practice. Still, he never saw art as a viable career option. Real life came at Tony fast. By the age of 16, he was a father. He married soon after and was ready to try to make something out of his life. This yearning saw him move to the west coast. Tony did odd jobs like selling furniture, but this just wasn't enough to support his young family.
It started innocently enough, the mere spark of an idea that would go on to shape the rest of Tony's life. He turned to his art, crafting a small sketch modeled in the style of a lesser-known artistic master. Armed with this simple drawing and a story about cleaning out his late grandfather's attic, Tony sold the sketch to an art dealer. From that moment on, Tony's life would never be the same. He would go on to meticulously forge are in the style of some of the best-known artists to ever touch paint to canvas. Along the way, he would become filthy rich and have to grapple with all the nefarious implications of criminally obtained wealth.
Con/Artist reads like a classic gangster movie. Think Goodfellas mixed with Oceans Eleven. Tony Tetro writes with a matter of fact prose that reads like you're listening to an old friend recall his wild story. He doesn't hold back. With the money comes fast cars, lavish vacations, and plenty of drugs. What really struck me was Tetro's reverence for those artists his painting emulated. The thing that set him apart from other forgers was his attention to detail. He meticulously crafted each painting through hours of study and experimentation. Tetro admits that the scientific advancements of today would immediately reveal his works to be fake, but his run in the 70s and 80s is remarkable to learn about. This non-fiction reads like something straight out of the movies, making it an insightful and ceaselessly entertaining read.
July 10, 2023
Why is that unique memoirs always seem to overlap with kinda obnoxious authors? This is a prime example - how often do you get to jump into the mind of a convicted art forger? While I’ve read quite a few books about art crime and forgery, none of them included this kind of perspective, and for that I have to commend Con/Artist for being different.
Because of the author’s history, my favorite sections were the ones describing the actual process of forging art - from sourcing older canvases, to choosing paints, and the process of artificially aging. Everything else kind of… meh? Tony Tetro is unapologetic about his past (he literally writes that he has no regrets), and seems to find great joy in reminiscing on his glory days, full of booze, women, money and cars. It’s very obvious that Tetro has a deep passion for art, but I can’t say he’s somebody I’d want to hang out with or have a conversation with. I did find it really interesting to hear how many other people were in on his game - forgery definitely wasn’t something Tetro did in isolation, and from his memory it seems like the entire LA art scene was in the know!
Is this worth reading? I’d probably pass. For a more nuanced and comprehensive view of forgery/fakes and their role in the culture of fine art, I’d recommend Provenance: How a Con Man and a Forger Rewrote the History of Modern Art or The Last Leonardo: The Secret Lives of the World's Most Expensive Painting instead. For a memoir on the other side of the legal fence, Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures might make a nice pairing.
Because of the author’s history, my favorite sections were the ones describing the actual process of forging art - from sourcing older canvases, to choosing paints, and the process of artificially aging. Everything else kind of… meh? Tony Tetro is unapologetic about his past (he literally writes that he has no regrets), and seems to find great joy in reminiscing on his glory days, full of booze, women, money and cars. It’s very obvious that Tetro has a deep passion for art, but I can’t say he’s somebody I’d want to hang out with or have a conversation with. I did find it really interesting to hear how many other people were in on his game - forgery definitely wasn’t something Tetro did in isolation, and from his memory it seems like the entire LA art scene was in the know!
Is this worth reading? I’d probably pass. For a more nuanced and comprehensive view of forgery/fakes and their role in the culture of fine art, I’d recommend Provenance: How a Con Man and a Forger Rewrote the History of Modern Art or The Last Leonardo: The Secret Lives of the World's Most Expensive Painting instead. For a memoir on the other side of the legal fence, Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures might make a nice pairing.
November 9, 2022
Thank you to Hachette Books for my gifted advance review copy!
CON/ARTIST recounts the story of well-known fine art forger, Tony Tetro, from his own perspective. The reader follows Tetro from very humble beginnings selling furniture to his quite meteoric rise as an ‘art dealer’ who is skilled in replicating and passing off his works as those of various famous artists.
I found this book to be completely fascinating. It’s a quick read that I would have finished sooner, but I stopped to google a lot of the works Tetro references (some familiar to me, some new). I couldn’t help but marvel at the effort and attention to detail that Tetro put into each of his masterpieces. It was honestly fascinating to follow along with his process, and I didn’t feel lost in any of the technical details.
If you are a fan of true crime and/or art history, this nonfiction pick may be a great fit for you. This will also appeal to those who enjoy THE WOLF OF WALL STREET and CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (maybe Leo should play Tetro in a film adaptation…just sayin’).
CON/ARTIST will be available from Hachette Books on November 22nd 2022!
CON/ARTIST recounts the story of well-known fine art forger, Tony Tetro, from his own perspective. The reader follows Tetro from very humble beginnings selling furniture to his quite meteoric rise as an ‘art dealer’ who is skilled in replicating and passing off his works as those of various famous artists.
I found this book to be completely fascinating. It’s a quick read that I would have finished sooner, but I stopped to google a lot of the works Tetro references (some familiar to me, some new). I couldn’t help but marvel at the effort and attention to detail that Tetro put into each of his masterpieces. It was honestly fascinating to follow along with his process, and I didn’t feel lost in any of the technical details.
If you are a fan of true crime and/or art history, this nonfiction pick may be a great fit for you. This will also appeal to those who enjoy THE WOLF OF WALL STREET and CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (maybe Leo should play Tetro in a film adaptation…just sayin’).
CON/ARTIST will be available from Hachette Books on November 22nd 2022!
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