'Spot the difference' has always been a popular type of puzzle as mild form of brain teaser down the years, but a gallery in south London has come up with its own slight variation in the form of 'spot the fake'. In an effort to bring the Art-loving public back through its doors to observe the fine arts within, the Dulwich Picture Gallery have commissioned an unknown Chinese artist to the tune of £120 to copy one of the Old Masters within its collection. The copy will then be placed among the existing legitimate artefacts within the gallery and visitors will be posed the challenge of identifying which one it is.
The gallery was England's first public one to be purpose-built and houses a permanent collection of works of art, that began life thanks to the generosity of its benefactor Sir Francis Bourgeois and his collection of Old Master paintings. As a response to the public seemingly being more attracted to one-off exhibitions in recent years, they have opted for the novel approach to hopefully draw their interest back to what they have to offer. Housing what they believe is one of the finest collections of Old Masters' works anywhere in the world, they hope to inspire would be visitors to pay due attention to all of the art on display, as they search for the one that does not belong in such esteemed company.
"Made in China" is the name given to the copy, which the director of the gallery Ian Dejardin has described as an "intervention with the permanent collection", in a witty turn of phrase.
The Dulwich Picture Gallery has opened its doors to visitors since 1811, playing host to a mere 200 people in a typical week at present when they are there to see the permanent collection that the gallery prides itself on.
That figure can balloon tremendously up to as many as 2,000 visitors per week when the gallery is arranged so as to exhibit temporarily housed works of art.
Behind its doors lie the permanent collection of around 600 European Old Masters, with such notable and renowned artists as Thomas Gainsborough, Nicholas Poussin and Peter Paul Rubens featuring among other Old Masters' works.
