Dadamaino 'Volumi' Forgery Case Ends with Acquittal

The Milan Tribunal acquitted all defendants in the criminal case concerning alleged forgery of Dadamaino's 'Volumi' works, ruling that the artworks are not fake. The case originated from a 2014 complaint by deputy Claudio Borghi, triggering investigations by the Carabinieri Cultural Heritage Protection Unit of Monza. Prosecutors alleged that an excessive number of 'Volumi' works (dated 1958–1960) appeared on the market between 2009 and 2014, suggesting forgery by prominent gallerists and members of the Archivio Dadamaino. Charges included art forgery and criminal association. The prosecution's experts deemed 99 of 104 seized works fake based on stylistic and calligraphic analysis. However, the court favored defense experts, including Professor Flaminio Gualdoni, who used comparative analysis with authenticated works and technical tools to rebut the findings. The tribunal concluded the evidence of forgery was not unequivocal, leading to acquittal 'because the fact does not exist.' The decision highlights the complexity of authenticity disputes in the art market and the potential harm to artists and market professionals.