Herman Goering’s Costly Confidence in a Conman
Han van Meegeren, a Dutch artist of moderate acclaim, found himself entangled in a web of intrigue shortly after World War II, accused of aiding the Nazis in pillaging the cultural heritage of the Netherlands. Facing charges of treason for allegedly supplying valuable paintings by Dutch masters to Hitler’s deputy, Hermann Goering, including a previously unknown Vermeer titled “Christ With the Adulteress,” van Meegeren opted for an unconventional defense. Rather than facing the death penalty, he revealed a shocking truth – every masterpiece he sold to Goering was, in fact, a meticulously crafted forgery. His admission marked the beginning of a desperate attempt to prove his skills as a forger, choosing imprisonment for his artifice over the gallows for treason.
Van Meegeren’s artistic journey began in 1914, culminating in his graduation from art school and subsequent work as an assistant art professor. However, by the late 1920s, his traditional style fell out of favor with critics, who dismissed him as an unoriginal artist. Spurred by a desire for vindication, he embarked on a mission to demonstrate his prowess by creating a forgery so convincing that even the most discerning critics couldn’t distinguish it from the works of the Dutch Golden Age. His masterpiece, “The Supper at Emmaus,” painted in the style of Vermeer, not only fooled renowned art historians but also fetched a considerable sum in today’s dollars. Undeterred by war and Nazi occupation, van Meegeren continued his forgery enterprise, eventually selling the infamous “Christ With the Adulteress” to Goering. Unraveling the truth in the aftermath of the war, van Meegeren’s forgeries transformed him from a pariah into an unexpected national hero, as he skillfully conned the Nazis and saved his own life in the process.
