Fake or Fortune: Fiona Bruce finds out painting is genuine

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Fake or Fortune’s Fiona Bruce and Philip Mould were introduced to a very exciting painting of an 18th-century Venetian view in a previously aired episode of the BBC series. The owner magazine publisher Nick Hopkinson was unsure if the painting was a work by either Francesco Guardi or Michele Marieschi but the experts had a huge shock in store for the team. 

Nick explained the painting had been in his family for generations but its artist had been disputed.

The Antiques Roadshow host asked: “Beautiful picture. How do you come to have this picture?”

“It was bought by my great grandparents in Venice around 1880 when they were on holiday there, it was then passed to my mother and on her death in 2006 I inherited it.”

“That’s a warmingly long provenance,” Philip commented and Nick added: “Yes and I hope it may continue.”

“So how can we help?” Philip asked and the owner replied: “I would really like you to tell me who painted this picture. 

Read more: Fake or Fortune: Degas painting bought for £800 uncovered as genuine

“Over time it’s been considered to be painted by a number of different people. Early on as a Guardi then a Marieschi and there’s still debate.”

Guardi and Marieschi are both known for paintings of Venetian views in the 18th century.

They were both contemporaries of Giovanni Antonio Canal and they all signed their pieces rarely. 

“Is there anything that will give us a start on this?” Philip asked Nick.

Turning the painting over, Nick said: “There are two labels on the back fixed to the painting in the early 1900s when it was lent to the Royal Academy by my great grandfather and the odd thing is this label describes it to Marieschi and the one on the right talks about it being a Guardi.”

“So the Royal Academy has two exhibitions of this picture one has a Guardi the other as a [Jacobo] Marieschi,” Philip quipped. 

“I’ve liked it ever since I was a child,” Nick remarked. “I like the activity of people.”

Evaluating the piece, Philip said: “There’s a big difference, Marieschi is a very significant artist in his own right but nothing like Guardi, if it is a work by Marieschi paintings on this scale have made £500,000 but if Guardi could be put to this up to £10million.”

“Gosh,” Nick said before revealing he would love the painting to be kept in the family. 

After investigating the painting’s provenance, expert Charles Bennington gave his verdict on the piece. 

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“I’ve given this picture a lot of thought,” he said. “It doesn’t have the distinctive touch of Marieschi or Guardi both of whom are very individual and distinctive artists. I don’t think it’ll be generally accepted as by either.”

“You’re saying Nick’s picture isn’t a Marieschi,” Fiona questioned 

“It’s a composition that was invented by Marieschi but I suppose most paintings like this are by imitators,” Charles confirmed 

“Of the same period?” Nick asked and the expert replied: “Yes either contemporary or slightly later.”

“I’m disappointed I was optimistic but I do understand that there are so many possibilities,” Nick admitted.  

“My thought is that maybe it’s by an English artist,” Charles continued. “One detail that supports rather strongly that it wasn’t painted by a Venetian is the misunderstanding of this church which has sort of become two different buildings because whoever painted this hasn’t understood that this church and building are part of the same thing and that to me strongly suggests someone who was unfamiliar with Venetian topography.”

“As a follower of Marieschi a picture of a certain date, I think one could value it at £20,000 so it’s not without worth,” Philip concluded.

“What do you think your great grandfather would think because he was championing it as a Marieschi,” Fiona asked.

“Yes and he paid almost as much in today’s money,” Nick revealed and Philip quipped: “Well it hasn’t gone down.”

Fake of Fortune? is available to watch on BBC iPlayer. 

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