Art forger Max Brandrett addresses the Cambridge Union

By Gretel Cuevas

In an intimate conversation with one of the world’s most notable art forgers, Max Brandett spoke on issues of the complexities of the art industry and the moral and philosophical dilemmas of art forging.

The British painter, internationally recognised for being one of the world's greatest art forgers, Max Brandrett spoke to the students at the Cambridge Union Society on February 10.

The art forger, who has recreated works of Caravaggio, Vermeer, Lowry, and many others of the great masters, shared his personal experiences that led him to become an art forger.

Through a recollection of personal memories from his childhood in Brighton, his time touring the country caring after the elephants of a circus, and the techniques he used to replicate the work of the great masters, Brandrett opened an interesting conversation surrounding the art world and the exciting life of a talented painter that chose to dedicate his life to recreate the work of others.

Brandrett’s interview continued the conversation of the Union’s debate on February 9 that touched upon the moral and philosophical dilemmas of sanctity and sin with questions such as, would we rather be sinners or saints?

Is sanctity an achievable goal, and should we pursue it if it is? The house voted in abstention, concluding that humans are neither sinners nor saints but individuals in a dual experience. Brandrett’s talk proved that there are always two sides to a story making it impossible to judge people on reductionist dichotomies such as sinner or saint, illegal or legitimate, artist or forger.

Before the event, I asked Brandrett why someone with such remarkable talent would choose to replicate the work of others instead of using that talent to create something new.

Brandrett brought up important points, such as the accessibility of the art industry and the role of social opportunity in success. As he highlighted, the art world has been a closed industry where very few have the chance of actually attaining success.

For someone who grew up in foster care with minimal opportunities, forging art was the only way he had to express his formidable artistic talent. “It was impossible at my time; I was a Bernardo boy,” he stated.

“Doing my own thing wasn’t possible because I couldn’t sell anything. So I just fell into it and decided to fake paintings and have loved it ever since.”

Christopher George, the president of the Cambridge Union, also asked Brandrett for some of the techniques he used to replicate ancient paintings.

Brandrett didn’t hesitate to take out a canvas and showed the audience some of his methods to achieve specific results, from using a hairdryer to accelerate the drying process of oils to using different heating techniques to crack the paint on the surface.

When the interviewer opened the floor, several students asked about the three times Brandrett had been in jail. He stressed that forgers stand at the top of the hierarchy within prisons, which gave him some positions of privilege and allowed him to keep working on the art.

“In prison, I was respected for who I was,” he said. Others also asked about the meaning the artists he copied had in his life. Brandrett talked about his admiration and the excitement it represents to recreate such works.

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He described the excitement that would wake him up at three in the morning while he was working on a Caravaggio, his favourite artist, and the indescribable rewards that come when you dedicate entirely to your passion.

The event ended with a book signing of Brandrett’s recently published memoir, Britain’s No 1 Art Forger, Max Brandrett: The Life of a Cheeky Faker, written by Anthony Valentine.

The book is based on Brandrett’s life as an art forger and reflects his exciting journey through the world of art forgery. Before the end of the event, Brandrett remarked that his life as an art forger “has been a journey he has loved” and that he is not finished yet, implying that we may expect some new work.

Brandrett is a man with no regrets, and despite the many judgements that society can put on him, he has lived on his own terms and is dedicated to his passion.