Italian art police, the Carabinieri TPC, seized 21 suspected forgeries attributed to Salvador Dalí from the exhibition "Dalí, Between Art and Myth" at Palazzo Tarasconi in Parma. The works, including 18 lithographs and three drawings, were among 80 pieces on display. A Rome court ordered the seizure after Dalí experts in Spain and the Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation expressed doubts about their authenticity. The investigation began with a routine check in January, and the Carabinieri waited until the show opened to confiscate the works, which were loaned by two Italian individuals. The exhibition was organized by Navigare company and had previously run at Rome's Historical Museum of the Italian Army Infantry.
The seizure highlights ongoing challenges in policing art forgeries in the commercial exhibition sector, where works attributed to major artists can circulate without rigorous provenance checks. If confirmed as fakes, the organizers could face prosecution for forgery or dealing in counterfeits. The case also underscores the role of specialist police units and artist foundations in authenticating works, and raises questions about due diligence in temporary shows hosted by public venues.