The Art of Deception

by Keith Burridge

“The Art of Deception” is based on the story of Han van Meegeren (1889 – 1947), one of the most successful art forgers of the 20th century. He forged Vermeer, Frans Hals, and other Dutch Masters. The play opens in a hospital in Amsterdam on Dec 29th, 1947, the last day of his life. He has been hospitalized because of a heart attack just before he is due to go to prison. His forgery has been uncovered because...

“The Art of Deception” is based on the story of Han van Meegeren (1889 – 1947), one of the most successful art forgers of the 20th century. He forged Vermeer, Frans Hals, and other Dutch Masters. The play opens in a hospital in Amsterdam on Dec 29th, 1947, the last day of his life. He has been hospitalized because of a heart attack just before he is due to go to prison. His forgery has been uncovered because one of his Vermeers has been found by the Allies in Hermann Goering’s collection of stolen art. He was accused of selling a Dutch treasure to Goering (Hitler’s second-in-command), which was considered treason and punishable by death. He faces the dilemma of whether to reveal the painting as a forgery thereby saving his neck but causing his painting to be destroyed (the fate of forgeries according to Dutch law) and unraveling his life’s work. The play flashes back to his struggle as a young artist. Ridiculed by the critics for his traditional style, his revenge is to paint a Vermeer hailed by the experts as Vermeer’s greatest work. Early in his career he seduces the wife of a prominent critic. She becomes his muse and co-conspirator, encouraging his move into forgery.

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The Art of Deception

Han van Meegeren 50s.
Dutch Painter who forges the paintings of Vermeer. Can be played by: Age 20s to 60s Race Any Male.


Jacques van Meegeren 30s.
Han van Meegeren’s son, also a painter. Can be played by: Age: 20s to 30s Race: Any Gender: Male.


Nurse 20s.
Can be played by: Age: Teens to 20s Race/ethnicity: Any Gender: Female.


Theo van Wijngaarden 50s.
Painter and friend of van Meegeren’s. Can be played by: Age: 20s to 60s Race: Any Gender: Male.


Karel de Boer 30s.
Art critic married to Joanna Oerlermans. Can be played by: Age: 20s to 50s Race: Any Gender: Male.


Joanna (Jo) Oelermans 20s or 30s.
Actress and wife of de Boer, then lover and wife of van Meegeren. Can be played by: Age: 20s to 40s Race: Any. Gender: Female.


Muller 40s.
Owner of an auction house. Can be played by: Age: 20s to 50s Race: Any. Gender: Male.

Abraham Bredius 60s.
Retired art gallery director, art historian and authority on Vermeer and other 17th Century Dutch Masters
Can be played by: Age: 40s to 70s Race: Any Gender: Male.


Joop Piller 30s.
Dutch policeman. Can be played by: Age: 20s to 50s Race: Any Gender: Male.


Auctioneer 30s.
Sotheby’s auctioneer. Can be played by: Age: 20s to 50s Race: Any Gender: Any.


Doubling of parts: The parts of Muller, Karel De Boer, Joop Piller and the Auctioneer can be played by one actor.

Development History

  • Reading, The ArtsCenter, Carrboro, North Carolina, 2013

Production History

  • Professional, Common Ground Theater, 2014

Awards

  • Best New Play
    Playwrights First
    Winner
    2014