Art Detectives: Forgery, Provenance, and the Science of Authentication


ID : 2237   

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The public often sees the art world as the domain of wealth, trendsetters, and high rollers, yet deception lurks behind the façade. After weapons and drugs, art is the third most lucrative illicit trade, with reports suggesting that more than half of artworks are fake or misattributed. In this course, we will ask: When is a copy simply a copy, and when is it a forgery? What techniques do master forgers use? Does a collector hold true title, and how important is provenance? What can science tell us about art authenticity? We will uncover riveting stories of criminal art activity, gallery closings, and master forgeries.

 

YOUR INSTRUCTOR: Christine Maasdam holds a master’s in humanities and a bachelor’s in cultural geography. Maasdam studied art at The Courtauld Institute, the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center, and the University of Glasgow. She trained in art crime investigation and is a member of the International Foundation for Cultural Property Protection. She holds Sotheby’s certifications in art law and appraisal, serves as a museum education docent, and has volunteered on archaeological projects in Israel.








 
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Class Details

6 Session(s)
Weekly - Mon

Location
OSHER ONLINE

Instructor
Osher Online Faculty 

 

Notice

Please read:  Once registered for an Osher Online course, you will receive an email from Osher inviting you to attend the Member Orientation. We encourage you to attend the session as details on logging in to your Osher account will be provided. If you are not able to attend the orientation a recording will be available. Orientation will be on Tuesday, Sept 22, at 2:00 PM.

While all Osher Online registrations are processed by URI OLLI, support for Osher Online classes is provided by the Osher Online team at Northwestern University School of Professional Studies. All questions should be directed to Osher Online, 312-503-5555 or email osheronline@northwestern.edu.

Tuition:  $60.00


Schedule Information

Date(s) Class Days Times Location Instructor(s) Instructional Method
9/28/2026 - 11/2/2026 Weekly - Mon 01:00 PM - 02:30 PM Osher Online, OSHER ONLINE  Map Osher Online Faculty  Osher Online

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