The National Gallery has been tasked with authenticating 92 paintings seized from the homes of two men accused of running an art forgery racket and allegedly netting 308,000 euros from a buyer.

Police sent the paintings to the same team of experts who determined that 13 artworks, allegedly by famous Greek artists, purchased by the plaintiff were fakes. The buyer told police that he had purchased the pieces from one of the two suspects, the “expert,” aged 62, on the recommendation of the second suspect, aged 87.

The pair were arrested after the 92 paintings were found in their homes. Police are also looking for the artist or artists who produced the fakes. Investigators believe that it was the job of the elder of the two men to approach potential buyers and of the 62-year-old to then convince them of the artwork’s authenticity.

Source: Kathimerini