Saturday, November 7, 2015

Luigi Garlaschelli, Experimental Skeptic. The Shroud of Turin. by Travis Simpkins

Luigi Garlaschelli, 2015. by Travis Simpkins


Portrait Sketch of
Luigi Garlaschelli
Professor of Organic Chemistry 
and Experimental Skeptic
University of Pavia, Italy
by Travis Simpkins



Luigi Garlaschelli: How to Fake the Shroud of Turin


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Luigi Garlaschelli. by Travis Simpkins. The Shroud of Turin

Worcester Art Museum: Ancient Egyptian Head of Mentuhotep III. by Travis Simpkins

Head of Mentuhotep III, 2010-1998 BC. Worcester Art Museum. by Travis Simpkins


Sketch of an 
Ancient Egyptian 
Head of Mentuhotep III 
11th Dynasty (2010 - 1998 B.C.) 
Sandstone 
Collection of the 
Worcester Art Museum 
by Travis Simpkins



The Forger (2014): John Travolta, Monet and a Heist at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston


     Directed by Philip Martin, and written by Richard D'Ovidio, The Forger (2014) has been met with mostly negative reviews. The story finds a Boston forger/thief, released early from prison to spend time with his ailing son, forced to pull off a Monet forgery and museum heist to repay the crooks that facilitated the bribe to ensure his release. Unlike most films concerning art forgery, this film gives little evidence or glimpses of the forger's abilities before his completing the fake Monet… a small detail, but it makes a difference in terms of plausibility and skill. The museum heist scene is interesting, but too brief. The plot would've benefitted if greater focus had been placed on Art Crime, and less on melodrama. On the plus side, the scenes shot inside the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston are superb, capturing many of the recognizable MFA galleries. The artist hired to capture Claude Monet's painting technique does a good job. John Travolta is good, but miscast as the forger. Christopher Plummer is wonderful and steals the show as the Irish grand dad. The supporting cast is hit or miss, including Abigail Spencer, Jennifer Ehle, The Sheridan, Victor Gojcaj and Boston comedian Steve Sweeney. The film is worthwhile for Art Crime aficionados... just fast forward to the forgery and heist scenes.

Boston, Massachusetts: The Forger

John Travolta: The Forger

John Travolta: The Forger

John Travolta: The Forger

: The Forger

John Travolta: The Forger

John Travolta: The Forger

Christopher Plummer: The Forger

: The Forger

John Travolta: The Forger

John Travolta: The Forger

: The Forger

John Travolta: The Forger

John Travolta: The Forger

: The Forger

John Travolta: The Forger

: The Forger

: The Forger

John Travolta at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: The Forger

John Travolta as an Art Forger: The Forger

Woman with a Parasol. Claude Monet: The Forger

John Travolta at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: The Forger

John Travolta and Claude Monet: The Forger

Christopher Plummer: The Forger

John Travolta: The Forger

Christopher Plummer at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: The Forger

Woman with a Parasol. Claude Monet: The Forger

John Travolta: The Forger

John Travolta, Christopher Plummer and an Art Heist: The Forger

John Travolta: The Forger

Christopher Plummer, John Travolta and an Art Heist: The Forger

: The Forger


"The Forger"- movie trailer