But when they came to the market in the 1920s, they caused a flurry of excitement among collectors – especially Andrew Mellon, who snapped them up, before donating them to the NGA in 1937. They hung next to the gallery's other European masterpieces, but doubts soon grew about their authenticity – and in the 1970s, scientific research confirmed the paintings used materials that didn't exist in the 17th Century. The works are thought to be by Theodorus van Wijngaarden, a Dutch painter, restorer and dealer – and friend of the now infamous Vermeer forger Han Van Meegeren.
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