Ante Topić Mimara (7 April 1898 in Korušce – 30 January 1987 in Zagreb) was a controversial Croatian art collector and philanthropist.
In 1963, he sold the Cloisters Cross to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and is vividly described by Thomas Hoving, who made the acquisition, in his book on the work.
[1][2][3] According to Thomas Hoving, "Topic Mimara's hoard of masterpieces are 95 percent fakes produced by him and his hired forgers.
"[4] On its opening, a "prominent Yugoslav art historian" told AP that "it might be the greatest collection of fakes in the world.
"[5] According to Konstantin Akinsha, Ante Topić Mimara built his collection by forging, but also by looting and swindling.