VVIK Lecture
Genuine or fake? Authentication of Gandhara sculptures
- Date
- Thursday 20 February 2025
- Time
- Explanation
- The lecture will be followed by drinks in the LIAS common room of the (new) Herta Mohr Building (first floor)
- Location
-
Lipsius
Cleveringaplaats 1
2311 BD Leiden - Room
- 2.23
Abstract
It is no secret that the number of Gandhara forgeries in the art world is growing very quickly, causing a wide range of problems. Fakes are seeping into the most renowned collections leading to a pollution of (art) historical, religious and cultural research. Is it possible to discern whether an artwork is genuine or not? In this lecture Saskia van Veen will discuss her findings regarding authenticity and the methods of authentication of Gandhara stone sculptures. Firstly, it is important to establish what would be considered genuine. Secondly, it needs to be established which methods can be used for research. There are three methods: stylistic analysis, provenance, and material-based analysis. Each has its advantages and drawbacks, which will be discussed in the lecture. Extra attention will be given to the material-based analysis of Gandhara stone art works to get an understanding of what that entails.
Bio
Saskia van Veen (1985) studied Art History at Leiden University, graduating on Asian Art with the question whether you can authenticate an art work purely based on material analysis. As a case study she used the Gandhara collection of the World Museum in Leiden.
In 2017 she published the book “Treasures of Stone Uncovered, Buddhist Sculptures from the Northern Qi”.