Is this really a fake Monet painting?

Imagine being convinced you own an old master, but repeatedly being told it's a fake.

That is what art collector David Joel says has happened to him and he has spent nearly two decades trying to get his Monet accepted as genuine.

It looks authentic and carries Claude Monet's signature on the bottom right hand corner.

But Mr Joel could never put it up for auction because officially it is a fake - but he is convinced otherwise.

Now aged 82, he can still recall the day he first saw the painting and fell in love with it - although initially it was well beyond his price range.

He said: "I first saw it in a sale room in Norwich. I couldn't possibly afford it because it was supposed to go for £500,000. I really loved it but there was nothing I could do about it.

"Two years later I heard there was a possibility I could buy it from the owner and I bought it for £40,000."
Missing Monet

Mr Joel believed the painting Bords de la Seine a Argenteuil was a missing Monet. It shows a scene identified as close to the painter's home on the Seine outside Paris. A note on the frame suggests it was painted in 1875.

However his exhaustive attempts to get accredited have so far failed.

The final word on whether it is genuine rests with a handful of individuals in a billionaire family of art collectors, dealers and art scholars - the Wildensteins.

The Wildensteins have, since the early 20th Century, been considered one of the world's leading authorities on painting, particularly the work of the Impressionists.

Without their approval, any scientific claim about the validity of the painting is worthless.

They adjudicate on all claims over Monet paintings. Their decision is final and there is no right of appeal.

Mr Joel has exchanged dozens of letters with the Wildensteins but without success.

"I have been trying for 18 years now to get Wildenstein to accept it for his catalogue. It is a long haul but I shall win in the end I think."

Art dealer and Antiques Roadshow expert Philip Mould said if the painting could be authenticated it would be worth a great deal more than £40,000.

"If it were included in the book it would be a very different picture. People would look at it differently, people would value it differently. It could be worth over £1m."
Long process

Mr Mould believes there are many other pictures out there with a greatness yet to be fully realised.

Arts Around: Rollin almost ready for big book sale

Saturday, April 30 is your last chance to donate gently used books and jigsaw puzzles for the arts council’s annual book sale. Still wanted are mysteries, self-help, childcare and art and design.

Please drop off your donations to the Rollin Art Centre, inside under the staircase in the wooden bin. We would appreciate if you could check the books for torn pages, mould and mildew, as we cannot sell books in these conditions.  Thank you for your support.

Art deadline approaching

The deadline for visual artists in all mediums to submit an application to exhibit their work in the Rollin Art Centre Gallery during the 2012 calendar year is Saturday, April 30.

Application forms are available at the Rollin Art Centre, on the corner of Eighth Avenue and Argyle Street.

Stewart exhibit wrapping up

Cathy Stewart’s exhibit of oil and acrylic paintings at the Rollin Art Centre Gallery, This Land is Your Land, will end on Wednesday, April 27.

The Rollin Art Centre is open Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The gallery will be closed Good Friday, April 22.

Easter Sunday youth concert

Net proceeds from the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra performance at the Trinity Anglican Lutheran Church on Easter Sunday will benefit the Community Arts Council, Trinity Organ Fund and Trinity Neighbourhood Outreach.

The symphonic celebration begins at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and seniors, $5 for students and children and are available at the Rollin Art Centre and Trinity Church.

Open Mike moving location

Open Mike Night is moving to Char’s Landing, a larger venue where the acoustics are great and the room spacious. There will be a fee of $5 to cover the cost of coffee or tea and a cookie.

This month’s featured reader will be Vicki Drybrough on Wednesday, April 27 at 7 p.m.

Rollin gardens look awesome

The Community Arts Council would like to thank its members, the Arrowsmith Rotary Club and the Coastal Community Credit Union for their help during the garden work bee held April 9. The gardens look amazing!

Studio tour draw winners

During Days With The Arts many artists had studio prizes to win. Congratulations to the winners, who have all been notified, and a big thank you to the donating artists.

Barkley choir celebrating

The Barkley Sounds Community Choir is celebrating their 10-year anniversary with the concert “Come To The Music” on Sunday, May 1, 2:30 p.m. at the Arrowsmith Baptist Church. Two guest choirs will also be performing: The Village Voices from Qualicum and the Sooke Community Choir. Tickets $10 are available at the Rollin Art Centre or from choir members.

New craft market at quay

Starting May 1 a new craft market will run on Sundays through to October from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Harbour Quay.  Come down to the quay and support our local crafters.

Time for yearly choral fest

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is holding its ninth annual Festival of Choirs featuring adult and children’s choirs from local churches, the Barkley Sounds Choir and Phil’s Harmonics String Orchestra. The event takes place on Friday, May 6 at 7 p.m. Free of charge, followed by refreshments.