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NewswireToday - /newswire/ -
Phoenix, AZ, United States, 04/09/2008 - Commissioned by Global Fine Art Registry, LLC., world renowned fingerprint forgery and fabrication detection specialist, Pat Wertheim, examined fingerprints found on an alleged Jackson Pollock painting and found them to be forged.
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In 2007, veteran fingerprint expert Thomas Hanley, commissioned by Fine Art Registry, examined and reported on fingerprints claimed by Peter Paul Biro to prove that a painting which was then in the possession of the of Long Island family, was created by abstract expressionist painter Jackson Pollock. Tom Hanley’s examination cast sufficient doubt on Paul Biro’s report to prompt him to recommend to Fine Art Registry CEO, Theresa Franks, that she retain fingerprint forgery expert, Pat Wertheim, to investigate further.
In October 2007, Pat Wertheim accompanied Thomas Hanley to view the fingerprints on the canvas and stretcher of the painting at the Long Island home of its then owners, where they gathered additional samples, photos and other evidence. They then visited the Pollock-Krasner house where Thomas Hanley made Mikrosil® casts of the fingerprint on the paint can used by Biro for comparison in his “authentication” of the painting. From these casts, Hanley made rubber “stamps” of the fingerprint and from these produced inked prints which were then photographed. Pat Wertheim then enhanced and studied photos of all of the fingerprints in question and published his findings in a report just released on the Fine Art Registry website today.
A summary of his findings follows:
"An examination of fingerprints found on a painting belonging to a Long Island family, purported to match those found on a paint can in Jackson Pollock’s studio and therefore to be fingerprints of the famous abstract expressionist, thereby “proving” that the painting was by Jackson Pollock and worth up to $100 million, were examined by myself at the request of Global Fine Art Registry, LLC. My investigation and examination led to the conclusion that the fingerprints on the painting indeed match one on a paint can in Jackson Pollock’s studio. However, I also concluded that the fingerprints on the painting were forged, placed there by means of an inked rubber stamp made from a cast taken from the print on the paint can in the Pollock studio." (Excerpted from Pat Wertheim’s report)
The full report can be read on the Fine Art Registry website.
Commenting on this investigation, Pat Wertheim said, “This is only the second known case of fingerprint forgery in the history of the science, the other one dating back to 1946 when Nedelkoff, the safe burglar, forged fingerprints to cover up his crimes.”
In an email to the owners of the painting, dated 10 Jan 2005, Paul Biro stated: “You are so lucky. I am able to confirm a match to a print that appears on a paint can in the Pollock Krasner House. It is also the same print as the one on Teri Horton’s painting. The print is extremely hard to image. It is going to take work and it will take time to document it satisfactorily….” And in the conclusion of a final “Forensic Report” of 20 October 2005 he states: “As stated on the attached Comparison Chart, Fingerprint A and Fingerprint B were created by the same finger. Based on the foregoing, until the present evidence is disproved, based on the foregoing evidence I am personally satisfied that the painting under examination here is indeed a work by Jackson Pollock. The connection of the painting with the hand that handled the blue paint can is compelling evidence.” He also states that, “The fingerprint comparison is based on accepted procedures and standards.”
Informed of the findings of the examination, the former owners told Fine Art Registry that they had in the meantime sold the painting using Paul Biro’s “authentication” report, which was based only on the forged fingerprints as evidence of “authenticity.” They did not reveal the details of the sale.
The fact that Biro claims this is “the same fingerprint” as he found on the back of Teri Horton’s painting raises obvious doubts about that “authentication” as well, but the painting, Teri’s Find which was recently for sale on eBay for $21 million, has not been made available for examination.
Pat Wertheim will first discuss this case, the second ever documented case of true fingerprint forgery in the history of the science of fingerprint examination and analysis, at the April 8 and 9 conference of the Nebraska Chapter of the International Association for Identification (IAI – the world’s oldest and largest forensic organization) at the Eugene Mahoney State Park in Ashland, NE. He will also present the case at the California State Division IAI conference in May 2008 and again at the IAI’s 93rd International Educational Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, in August 2008.
Theresa Franks, CEO of Fine Art Registry, said, “We are very proud to be able to announce the conclusion of this examination and investigation which has revealed a conspiracy to use forged ‘forensic’ evidence to authenticate art. We hope that the authorities will take appropriate action against those involved in the conspiracy to help protect the public against further fraud of this nature. There is a place for forensic science in the authentication of art, but it must be only carried out by qualified, trusted and honest scientists. This investigation is the first of its kind in art history. Fine Art Registry’s mission is to help bring order to the world of art and this is a step in that direction."
Fine Art Registry™ is today's only high tech solution to the age old problems that have existed in the art world since before the Ancient Greeks: How to establish provenance, prove authenticity and ownership, prevent forgery and fakery, deter theft and, basically, make it possible to create, buy and sell works of art with the security of knowing that they are what they claim to be. Full information on FAR® and how the system of tagging and registering art is available on the Fine Art Registry website.
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dphillips[.]fineartregistry.com 
