Authentication
Fine art authentication is the process of personal inspection, witnessing a work of art in person and verifying the characteristics of the art work to be consistent with what is written and known about the work (e.g. paper size, paper type, what it’s made of, canvas size, canvas material).
Authenticating provenance services, I can provide expert documentation by: Contacting the previous owner(s) to verify the data is correct. Going back to the artist’s studio, representatives, and controlling dealers for verification. Review of the catalogue raisonné and research of historical materials. Evaluating any fine art depends entirely upon witnessing the art and proper identification, ranking the work in the context of an artist’s career and researching and verifying comparable works that have been offered in the marketplace.
Rare fine art paintings are often appraised by specialist appraisers who dedicate their lives to one artist. My expertise includes late 19th Century, Modern, Contemporary, and Latin American paintings, drawings, prints, posters, sculptures, and monuments.
Valuation
The value of fine art is fluid, and constantly changing. The variables include value characteristics, historical relevance and international market perspectives that establish value.
Evaluating any fine art depends entirely upon witnessing the art and proper identification, ranking the work in the context of an artist’s career and researching and verifying comparable works that have been offered in the marketplace.
Valuation of paintings, drawings and other fine art require an expert.
Provenance & Forgery Services
Provenance is a record of ownership of a work of art, used as a guide to authenticity or quality. Like the title to a car, provenance is the history of ownership. Keeping records of purchases assists in verifying provenance. Likewise, exhibition history can add value to your collection when your art has been on loan. Provenance is the one of the keystones of proving authenticity, and a first resource for detecting forgeries and reprints. Lacking solid records of history, each piece of fine art is perforce suspect in the eyes of your professional appraiser.
I have also seen situations where provenance was made up. The work of art was not authentic, and the provenance research was the first sign that something was askew. Knowing where your art came from is critical to its value in the resale market. And researching provenance can be a laborious task if records aren’t kept.
The nearby Getty Research Institute collections include over one million books, periodicals, study photographs, and auction catalogs as well as extensive special collections of rare and unique materials including the Getty Provenance Research Database. I am a frequent provenance researcher at the Getty Institute Library.