CACG Zoom Presentation: Sleuthing Out Fakes and Forgeries: The Conservator’s Possible Role Presented by Joseph Barabe

Chicago Area Conservation Group (CACG) - Wednesday, March 13 2024 Noon CST

Sleuthing Out Fakes and Forgeries: The Conservator’s Possible Role

Presented by Joseph Barabe

Forgers use a wide variety of techniques in creating their fakes or misrepresenting the

attribution of works of art. Some of their techniques are ancient, but they’ve also

developed a few new methods, some of which are well within the skills and tools of

the conservator to detect. In this talk we will explore some classical fake and forgery

methods but will focus on some of the newer techniques the bad guys have developed.

Also, if there is a possible problem, how might you discuss this with your client, and

when is it time to contact the FBI’s Art Crimes Team?

Joseph Barabe is principal and Senior Research Microscopist at Barabe & Associates LLC, a

laboratory specializing in art materials and documents analysis, and an instructor at the Hooke

College of Applied Sciences, where he teaches workshops in pigment identification and

printing process identification, both in-person and online. He studied under the mentorship of

Dr. Walter C. McCrone, widely known for his analyses of the Vinland Map and the Shroud of

Turin, and, until his retirement, Joe was Director of Scientific Imaging and Senior Research

Microscopist at McCrone Associates in Westmont, IL.

This meeting is open to all – CACG membership is not required to attend.

Please RSVP to CACG@chicagoareaconservation.org to receive a Zoom link.