Man Yells ‘Fake!’ at London Sale of Utrillo Paintings

A man was expelled from a London auction of pictures by French impressionist Maurice Utrillo on Tuesday after leaping up and shouting that the works are fakes.

Paris businessman Jean Fabris, former secretary to Utrillo’s late widow and self-proclaimed guardian of the painter’s works, says a number of Utrillo canvases being sold by top auctioneers Christie’s and Sotheby’s in London this week are fakes.

A spokesman for Christie’s said that as one of the paintings, “Rue Enneigee,” came up, Fabris “stood up and made a lot of noise, shouting “Fake, fake, fake!”

Fabris, 57, was escorted out by a Christie’s employee and the sale continued. The painting was bought by a New York dealer for $162,000.

Fabris has written several books and catalogues on Utrillo, who died in 1955 at the age of 72. He says he plans to cause a similar disruption at Sotheby’s today when seven works by the artist are due to go on sale.

Sotheby’s said Monday that the world’s top Utrillo experts have pronounced the works genuine and said the sale will go ahead.