Italian police have seized 21 suspected forgeries attributed to surrealist artist Salvador Dalí from an ongoing art exhibition, the Carabinieri said on Wednesday.
The artworks had only been on display for a few days at the "Dalí — Between Art and Myth" exhibition in the northern Italian city of Parma, the law enforcement agency said.
In a statement they said the seized objects include tapestries, drawings, prints and other artworks.
The same works had previously been shown in an exhibition with the same title in a museum in Rome. The Fundación Gala-Salvador Dalí, which manages and protects the artist's intellectual property rights worldwide, had expressed concerns about their authenticity.
The Rome Public Prosecutor's Office ordered the artworks seized following an investigation.
Dali, who was born in 1904 in Figueres, Spain, died there in 1989, aged 84. His artworks are among the most expensive and sought-after in the art world, driven by his unique surrealist style and historical significance. His innovative imagery and limited originals make his work highly desirable for collectors and investors worldwide. However, the high market value has also led to an increase in forgeries, as counterfeiters attempt to exploit his fame.
Experts warn buyers to exercise caution and verify provenance through reputable authentication services to avoid fraud. Despite efforts to combat forgeries, Dalí’s iconic pieces continue to attract both admiration and illicit replication, underscoring the need for vigilance in art transactions. — dpa
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