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When did the copying of famous artworks begin in the history of art collecting?

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kouros — Art fraud Kouros of uncertain provenance, formerly on display with the label “about 530 bc or modern forgery,” dolomitic marble; in the J. Paul Getty Museum, Villa Collection, Malibu, California.

The practice of copying famous artworks is as old as the history of art collecting itself.1

In the ancient world, the creation of replicas was a standard response to the high demand among collectors for renowned works. For example, during the rise of the Roman Empire, wealthy Romans who could not acquire original Greek masterpieces commissioned copies of them to satisfy their desire for such art. These replicas were not intended to deceive or pass as originals; rather, they were recognized adaptations of highly admired works, such as the bronze Spear Bearer by the Greek sculptor Polyclitus.12

It is important to distinguish these historical copies from forgery, which is defined by the "intent to deceive". While the act of copying is a fundamental part of artistic study and historical demand, forgery involves the deliberate misrepresentation of a work's origin, age, or creator to achieve financial gain.31