Fake or Fortune

When Ian and Julie moved into their Surrey cottage nearly 20 years ago, they discovered a curious wall painting in one of the bedrooms. They were planning to paint over it, when a neighbor told them famous British abstract artist Ben Nicholson stayed at the cottage and could have created it. If the team can prove the painting is genuine, it could be worth £200,000, if they can safely remove it.

Fiona Bruce and Philip Mould investigate a delicate sketch depicting a mother and child, purported to be by one of the modern art world’s most famous names, Amedeo Modigliani. Its owner, Henrietta Sitwell, inherited the work and always believed it to be genuine. However, a leading auction house recently cast doubt on its authenticity. If the work is by the master, it could be worth up to £100,000.

Fiona Bruce and Philip Mould investigate a charming little landscape purported to be by one of the founding members of the impressionist movement, the British artist Alfred Sisley. Its owners bought the work at auction near Chicago and believe it to be genuine. However, the painting was turned down by the authentication committee. If the work is real, it could be worth over £250,000.

Fiona and Philip visit a church in Port Glasgow to investigate whether a mysterious work depicting Christ could be a lost masterpiece by one of the great painters of Northern Renaissance art. Art historian Ian Macdonald thought there was something special about the painting, but he died in 2021. In one of their toughest investigations, they try to find the answers Ian was looking for.