He is estimated to have sold and placed hundreds of forged paintings in prominent collections around the world. He was never been caught or punished for his forgery and is known as one of the most notorious art fakers. Who was this man? Elmyr de Hory, a Hungarian refugee most of his life who realized he could make a living off of his art work by imitating other famous artists.

Although de Hory committed suicide in 1976, his life story is still being told through films, books and lectures. On Sunday, March 21 at 3:30 p.m. in Wallenburg Auditorium, Nobel Hall of Science, Mark Forgy will be giving a lecture on Elmyr de Hory, free to the public.

“Mark met de Hory almost by accident when he was backpacking in Europe and went with a friend to the Spanish island of Ibiza, where de Hory lived. When Mark and his companion could not find lodging, de Hory let them stay in his guest lodgings and Mark ended up staying on, living with de Hory for the next seven years until his death in 1976 and serving as his friend, protégé, secretary, assistant and gallery director,” Donald Meyers, the director of the Hillstrom Muesum, said.

Forgy had become close to de Hory throughout the seven years he lived with him and he felt more like a father to him than anything else. De Hory set about giving Forgy a European education by giving him lists of books to read, paying for French lessons and instilling his personal insight with him.

Mark Forgy has a unique perspective on the life of de Hory that few others have. His lecture he will be largely anecdotal and he will also speak about de Hory’s art.

“I believe Mark Forgy’s presentation will not only give us information about de Hory’s ability to recreate master pieces, but a keen sense of his life as a whole and a personal testimony; to Mr. Forgy’s personal experience with the master artistic forger, de Hory. I strongly recommend students attend this wonderful opportunity,” First-year Philosophy and Music Major Antonio Herbert said, who is also a Hillstrom Museum student guard.

Forgy explained that after World War II, de Hory came to Paris to try and reestablish himself as an artist. One day an Englishwomen approached his pen and ink drawing and asked him where he had got the Picasso painting from, de Hory asked the women what made her think it was a Picasso, and she replied, I know a Picasso when I see one.

“This was the catalyst that made him embark on that career. I think if he had had any commercial success with his art he would have pursued it, but before the war his family was very well off and he had never held a job before, he was trained as an artist,” Forgy said.

“Students will learn more about the remarkable personality of de Hory from Mark’s lecture, and that will help them recognize the circumstances behind his very accomplished creation of works in the style of other master artists,” Meyers said.