Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How did Han van Meegeren prove that he had forged a Vermeer painting?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Forgery
A look at a letter supposedly written by William Shakespeare to his wife, Anne Hathaway; it was, in fact, faked by William-Henry Ireland.
After being arrested in 1945 on charges of collaborating with the Nazis for selling a painting attributed to Johannes Vermeer to Hermann Göring, Han van Meegeren confessed to the forgery to avoid the more serious charge of treason.
To prove his claim to the authorities, van Meegeren painted another "Vermeer" while under their direct observation, utilizing the same materials and techniques he had employed for his previous works. By demonstrating his ability to replicate the style and process of the Dutch master, he successfully substantiated his confession.12