Masterful fakes: The paintings of Wolfgang Beltracchi

Art forger Wolfgang Beltracchi's paintings have brought him millions of dollars in a career that spanned decades.

His paintings made their way into museums, galleries, and private collections worldwide, but as Bob Simon reports this week on 60 Minutes, all of his paintings are fakes.

Beltracchi's forgeries are unusual because he didn't copy existing paintings. Instead he created new works he imagined artists might have painted as well as works that were lost or missing from catalogs.

The forgery to the left was created by Beltracchi in the style of French painter Jean Metzinger.

Madchen mit Schwan

In a sense, every Beltracchi painting is an original. But he lied about who painted them in a scam that eventually led him to a six-year prison sentence and lawsuits totaling $27 million.

He estimates that he has forged a hundred artists and can imitate just about anyone. The following slides showcase his range.

The forgery to the left was created in the style of Dutch painter Henrich Campendonk.

Kleines kubistiches Stilleben

This forgery was created in the style of Louis Marcoussis.

Bouquet de fleurs

This forgery was created in the style of Moise Kisling.

Collioure

This forgery was created in the style of French artist Andre Derain.

Seine Paris

This forgery was created in the style of Max Pechstein.

Rotes Bild mit Pferden

This forgery was created in the style of Dutch painter Heinrich Campendonk.

Kleine weiße Landschaft

This forgery was created in the style of German surrealist Max Ernst and sold for $7 million.

Kubistisches Stilleben

This forgery was created in the style of Fernand Leger.

Frauenakt

This forgery was created in the style of Max Pechstein.

La Horde

This forgery was created in the style of Max Ernst.

Cycliste (oval)

This forgery was created in the style of Jean Metzinger.

Portrait d' Alfred Fletchtheim

This forgery was created in the style of Louis Marcoussis.

Boote in Collioure

This forgery was created in the style of Andre Derain.

La Mer

This forgery was created in the style of Max Ernst.

Herbstwald

This forgery was created in the style of Heinrich Nauen.

Zwei Figuren in Landschaft

This forgery was created in the style of Heinrich Campendonk.

Kubistiches Frauenbild

This forgery was created in the style of Jean Metzinger.

Guitare le compotier (Le Journal)

This forgery was created in the style of Georges Braque.

River epte, Giverny

This forgery was created in the style of Theodore Karl Butler.

Portrait Alfred Flechtheim

This forgery was created in the style of Marie Laurencin.

Bouquet Varie

This forgery was created in the style of Moise Kisling.

Maternité

This forgery was created in the style of Auguste Herbin.