Vienna’s Museum of Art Fakes is a small private museum devoted to forged artworks and the people who made them. Its collection includes works associated with Vermeer counterfeiter Han van Meegeren and London restorer Tom Keating, who claimed to have forged more than 2,000 works. Displays explain the stories behind the fakes, with a detailed audio guide and written guides to help you follow them. The exhibition occupies one room, but the information and book area can keep you reading for close to an hour.
A museum devoted to forged art
The Museum of Art Fakes, also known as the Fälschermuseum Wien, is a private museum about art forgery. Its single-room exhibition brings together fake artworks and information about the people behind them. Some works in the collection were once thought to be genuine.
The subject sets this museum apart from a conventional gallery visit. Displays explain individual forgers and their methods, with written material to read alongside the artworks.
The forgers behind the works
Among the figures covered is Han van Meegeren, known for counterfeiting Vermeer. The exhibition also includes works associated with Tom Keating, a London restorer who claimed to have forged more than 2,000 works attributed to over one hundred artists.
A complimentary audio guide adds detail to the displays. Its route through the room is not linear, so you can follow the information at your own pace. Written guides provide more about the forgers, and the museum’s book area gives you a chance to explore the subject further.
Planning your visit
The exhibition is compact, but reading the material and listening to the audio guide can extend a visit to close to an hour. Photography is not allowed. Written guides are available in multiple languages, and there is a gift shop.
Preguntas frecuentes
How long do you need at the Museum of Art Fakes?
Allow 30 to 60 minutes. The exhibition is one room, but the display information, audio guide and books can take longer to explore.
Can you take photos inside the Museum of Art Fakes?
No. Photography is not allowed.
Does the museum have an audio guide?
Yes. A complimentary audio guide explains the displays. Its route through the room is not linear.
What can you see at the Museum of Art Fakes?
The collection focuses on forged artworks and their makers, including works associated with Han van Meegeren and Tom Keating.
