Art Detectives: Cabinet Edition

Fine forgery or authentic antique? Only the skilled detectives at the museum can solve this case!

Most cabinets that still exist from the Renaissance are in rough shape—which makes sense for something that’s at least 400 years old. So when curators saw that the Renaissance-style wooden cabinet J. Paul Getty had purchased was in great shape, they suspected it was a more recent copy. But after a visit to an exhibition of other French furniture from the Renaissance, curators saw clues that this fancy furniture might be the real deal after all!

Working together with conservators and scientists, the museum analyzed the cabinet further, using dendrochronology, carbon dating, and metal analysis. What did they discover? Find out on this week’s Art Detectives.

Like this episode? Head to the website for a listening guide, where you’ll find discussion topics and related activities. We also have a coloring page featuring this week’s star!

Teachers, are you working on lessons about how we know history? This episode and its listening guide are great resources for the classroom or to send home to families.

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These stories are based on historical research and evidence, but some of the characters and scenarios are fictionalized. If you have questions, write to us or send us a voice memo! You can reach us at [email protected].

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For more art history insights, check out our other Getty Podcasts shows at www.getty.edu/podcasts

Recording Artists tells artist biographies using archival material from the Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recording-artists/

OMMM: Our Museum Mindfulness Meditation merges art history with mindfulness meditations: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/ommm/

ReCurrent chronicles the people who shape our culture and keep the past alive: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recurrent/

Art + Ideas showcases interviews with artists, architects, scientists, and cultural luminaries by former Getty President Jim Cuno: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/art-and-ideas/

Through its programs—Getty Conservation Institute, Getty Foundation, Getty Museum, Getty Research Institute, and Getty Trust—Getty shares and advances the world’s visual art and cultural heritage, both in Los Angeles and throughout the world.

Learn more about all we do for art on our website:

Getty: https://www.getty.edu/

Getty Conservation Institute: https://www.getty.edu/conservation/

Getty Foundation: https://www.getty.edu/foundation/

Getty Museum: https://www.getty.edu/museum/

Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/research/