Prince Charles’s Charity Displayed Paintings by Picasso, Dalí, and Monet—Until a Convicted Forger Claimed Them as His Own

Prince Charles has found himself
at the center of a $136 million fake-art scandal. The British
royal, who is a former trustee of London’s National Gallery and
grew up surrounded by Old Masters, must have been delighted when
the flamboyant British businessman James Stunt agreed to lend 17
works supposedly by Monet, Picasso, and Salvador Dalí to Dumfries
House, the historic property in Scotland that’s a cause close to
the heart of the heir to the British throne.

But paintings purportedly have
been quietly returned after Los Angeles artist and convicted forger
Tony Teatro said he painted them. They were done “in the style
and spirit of a particular painter,” but they were Teatro’s own
original work, he told Artnet News. “I want to make very clear that while the
painting and technique were quite good, there is no way that these
paintings could pass even the lightest scrutiny. The canvases are
new, paint is modern, stretcher bars are not correct or
period.”

The paintings were lent by Stunt
to the Prince’s charity for display at the 19th-century house,
which Prince Charles was instrumental in saving for the nation. The
works included a crucifixion said to be by Dalí, “Monet” water
lilies, and a “Picasso” canvas showing two Surrealist figures on a
beach. The works were among the 17-strong collection reported to
have been quietly removed from display at Dumfries House by the
Princes’ Foundation, which is one of Prince Charles’s many
charities.

In a statement, the Prince’s
Trust said: “It is extremely regrettable that the authenticity of
these particular few paintings, which are no longer on display, now
appears to be in doubt.” A spokeswoman declined to say how many
works were on loan from Stunt, or when they were returned. Teatro
says he made 10 or 11 paintings for Stunt, “for his homes and
office as decoration.”

The Daily Mail reports that Stunt has apologized to the Prince
and his charity, saying: “What is the crime of lending them to a stately
home, [to] the Prince of Wales and putting them on display for the
public to enjoy?” He stopped short of accepting that he knew they
weren’t originals.  

In a further twist to the plot,
the newspaper reports that Stunt has also lent at least one work to
the Houses of Parliament. A spokesman for the House of Commons
declined to comment, telling Artnet News that “loan contracts are
confidential.” 

Teatro, who was found guilty of
art forgery involving works by Dalí, Miro, Chagall, and Norman Rockwell in the
past, now makes what he calls “emulations” of Modern masterworks.
Stunt “knew with 100% certainty that these works were by
me,” Teatro said, a claim that Stunt denies. “We discussed the
subject of the paintings and many of the particulars. These were
decorative paintings that were purposely made by me as decorations
for his home,” Teatro added

Teatro said that Stunt bought
various copies of Old as well as Modern Masters. He said that Stunt
paid for one group of copies with a genuine portrait by Joshua
Reynolds, which Teatro said he sold at Christie’s in 2015. Their
business relationship cooled in 2017, however. Teatro said that he
was left with a “Picasso” portrait of Dora Maar commissioned by
Stunt.  

Stunt, who was declared bankrupt
this summer, is best known for his feud with his former
father-in-law, the motor racing mogul Bernie Ecclestone. He is fond
of using Instagram to rant at Ecclestone and other critics,
sometimes with a Monet or Warhol in hanging in the
background.

The post Prince Charles’s Charity Displayed Paintings by
Picasso, Dalí, and Monet—Until a Convicted Forger Claimed Them as
His Own appeared first on artnet News.