There is growing awareness that there are many fakes of Russian master paintings on the market. “London sales of Russian masters exceed £10 million a year. But behind the scenes there are growing recriminations in the secretive world of Bond Street dealers. One accuses Sotheby’s, which dominates the market, of lack of competence. Another Russian dealer said: ‘Western auctioneers now have fakes in their catalogues all the time’.”