emfiliane reviewed False Impressions by Thomas Hoving
Review of 'False Impressions' on 'Goodreads'
2 stars
This could have been a more interesting book, but often as not I found it a chore to read. The subject matter -- art fakery, the criminals who perpetrate it, and the curators and journalists who fall for it -- made for a fascinating glimpse into this other world. Hoving just can't write well consistently, and in particular he can't sidestep his own ego for long.
Sometimes, like when going over the medieval and renaissance works, he would cover so many so quickly that it felt as if he were simply reciting names and dates, losing all the unique charm a tale needs to keep your interest. Some of the text made no sense without the plates (halfway across the book), and for some parts there were no plates to, I was never sure just what he was talking about. Other times he exhaustively defines every point, sometimes well, but …
This could have been a more interesting book, but often as not I found it a chore to read. The subject matter -- art fakery, the criminals who perpetrate it, and the curators and journalists who fall for it -- made for a fascinating glimpse into this other world. Hoving just can't write well consistently, and in particular he can't sidestep his own ego for long.
Sometimes, like when going over the medieval and renaissance works, he would cover so many so quickly that it felt as if he were simply reciting names and dates, losing all the unique charm a tale needs to keep your interest. Some of the text made no sense without the plates (halfway across the book), and for some parts there were no plates to, I was never sure just what he was talking about. Other times he exhaustively defines every point, sometimes well, but sometimes to the point of irritation. The biggest mistake I saw was that the ending was very rushed; one of the most interesting stories, about a prolific Mexican sculptor, was cut short and glossed over.
Hoving also has a reputation for... embellishing on his own accomplishments or criminals' cleverness. Some of the areas seem a little hazy and farfetched, so I don't know. He always claims his own explanation to be correct anytime there's room for many possible theories, rather than explaining each and giving the highs and lows of them. In tone he is quite full of himself and his accomplishments, always boasting of being a great fakebuster, often sneering at fellow curators and making snide remarks about journalists (who are really only expected to report whatever the curator says, after all, since most aren't trained in art).
Overall, the book does concentrate on the art and the people duped, and it will expand your fine art knowledge in many ways, covering many varied subjects. I'd still recommend it to art students or fanciers, but to most it would simply be too dense and uneven.