Art forgery grew exponentially in the 19th century, due to the ever-growing art market and interest in historical artworks. With expanding collections around the world, forgers thrived finding gaps in authentication methods, forcing the art market to be more cautious. As technology evolved, forgers had more technologies like photography and printing to create fake artworks, which facilitated the copying of emerging art styles like realism and impressionism. In contemporary times, digital tools like editing software and Artificial Intelligence help create images simulating the original style of the artists. Hence, forgers continue to reproduce historical artworks and introduce them as genuine.

When producing modern fakes, skilled forgers pay attention to the pigments and supports, also attempting to recreate fractures, discoloration, and other indicators of wear. However, false aging can appear overly purposeful, even manufactured, while minor errors in perspective, composition, or signature placement can indicate that a painting is not what it appears to be. When examining the Vincenzo Canino forgeries, it is important to discern whether they accurately portray his characteristic style and identify any inaccuracies. Canino's original plein air paintings —which is a style of painting that captures the light and atmosphere of an outdoor scene— include loose and expressive brushstrokes, while the imitations appear more controlled, implying that the artist had more time to perfect them. Similarly, the forgeries of Leon Giuseppe Buono and Gaetano Bocchetti are excellent examples of the difficulty in realizing forgeries. These 20th-century Neapolitan painters followed the masters of the 19th-century School of Posillipo, depicting oil plein air paintings as nomads that traveled along the countryside or coast to portray local natural elements and picturesque landscapes. Painted using tempera instead of oil paint, the works in this exhibition demonstrate that the forgers were not adequately informed. A meticulous analysis illustrates the challenges of making modern forgery, as well as the need for more verification procedures to preserve artistic authenticity.