Word: porcella
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Dates: during 1959-1959
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...years old, but you can't sell them as art." Undaunted, the Folio family consulted one Charles di Renzo, owner of an electrical-supply store in nearby Rosemead, who made a deal to act as the Folios' "agent." Di Renzo and his brother Jay called in Amadore Porcella, an enthusiastic authenticator described as a Vatican art expert. Porcella ticked seven of them off as a Caravaggio, a Lotto, a Tintoretto, and some assorted smaller fry. (In Rome last week he denied that he had identified the other three as a Raphael, another Tintoretto and a Titian...
Speed in the Studio. At Porcella's urging, Zlatoff-Mirsky came hurrying out to Hollywood. He pronounced the pictures in excellent condition-while at the same time warning that another year of neglect would ruin them forever-took them away, and restored them all with "chemical solvents" in three weeks. Since proper restoration of deteriorated paintings can require as much as a year apiece, Zlatoff-Mirsky's speed was astonishing. At Lawyer Giesler's press conference, he refused to show the actual pictures but passed photographs about. There were also pictures of the most happy Folio himself...
Next day the smiles faded. A Vatican spokesman said that Authenticator Porcella had indeed worked for the Vatican-for a short period more than 24 years ago on a guidebook. The Italian government, which keeps tab on its art experts, said that Citizen Porcella was not listed as a first-rate expert, or even as a second-rate one. A Chicago art dealer named Jack Shore, president of the Sheridan Galleries, proudly revealed that Porcella had authenticated half a dozen similar masterpieces for him in the past year (among them a "Leonardo"). All were restored by Zlatoff-Mirsky, whom Shore...