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Attribution, expertise (establishment, confirmation of authorship) on the artwork

Attribution, expertise (establishment, confirmation of authorship) on the artwork

Art is one of the most valuable legacies of humanity. Paintings, fine art, and other works of art are not only objects of aesthetic pleasure but also valuable cultural assets. However, due to their value, such works are often subjected to forgery. To ensure the authenticity of a work of art, an examination is conducted, which helps to determine authorship, the date of creation, and the authenticity of the painting. Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions about how to prove copyright on a painting, how to confirm its authenticity, and where to order an examination of paintings.

By default, each of our customers receives a simple historical reference and a certificate of authenticity for the artwork. It includes the name, size of the artist's (sculptor's) work, a description of the plot and style of the work, and a brief biography of the author.

What is an authenticity examination of a painting?

An authenticity examination of a painting is a process to verify whether the artwork is a genuine piece by the artist to whom it is attributed. An authenticity examination of a painting may include an analysis of paint composition, canvas age, and other factors to determine if the artwork was created at the stated time and place.

It may also include comparing the features of the artwork with other works by the same artist or well-known masters of the same period.

Art History Examination in Ukraine

If you already have a painting, graphic work, or sculpture, and you do not know - "who is the artist", "who is the author of the work", "when it was created", etc.? Do you want to be sure and get a certificate of authenticity (originality) for the artwork?

At the "ArtDom" gallery, you can use the services of experts and art historians who will help establish the author of the painting, graphic work, or sculpture and prepare the necessary documents (expert's conclusion, historical reference). By obtaining a document that your painting or sculpture is original, the value of your item immediately increases. Now, upon sale, you can be 100% sure that you have an original piece of art by a great master.

We work throughout Ukraine, with most of our experts, funds, and laboratories located in Kyiv. The processing time is from 3 to 20 days.

By ordering a certificate of authenticity for a painting, graphic work, or sculpture, you can use such a document abroad. This will allow you to declare, insure, present it at an exhibition, or even sell it through an auction. After all, foreign experts cannot attribute Ukrainian artworks. For this purpose, you order a certificate of authenticity and make a notarized translation of this document.

Our specialists are in touch and happy to consult on all questions that interest you

+38 063 247 8102

artdomua

+38 063 247 8102

How to establish the authenticity of a painting, graphic work, or sculpture?

As a rule, if the work is by a little-known artist, a verbal consultation will be sufficient. This will save you money and time. Also, if the artist or sculptor is still alive, you can contact them. This will be the best confirmation of originality:

1. for example, the artist can be photographed with their work in hand or next to it;

2. or, for instance, you can ask the artist to write a note by hand: “The painting “__________”, size __ * __ cm, oil on canvas, was painted by me, ____Full Name____ in ____ year. Date and signature.”

attribution of a painting, establishing authorship, examination, artist with painting — attribution of a painting, establishing authorship

If the painting, graphic work, or sculpture is by a well-known and expensive artist who is no longer with us, our specialists turn to 1) the holders of the artist's fund or 2) leading experts.

1) The holders of such funds are state museums, institutes that can take your work and compare it with their works by the same author - to observe stylistics, learn the period of creation, study the signature, materials, and paints. The result of such research will be an expert's conclusion, which will contain all the data - full name of the artist, period of creation, description of the plot of the artwork, etc.

2) Leading experts have extensive experience with the works of certain artists or sculptors (for example, someone may specialize only in the works of Mykola Petrovych Hlushchenko, while someone else may be an expert on Serhiy Ivanovych Vasylkivsky). Such experts value their own reputation, which is why they take attribution and signing each conclusion very seriously. They have repeatedly seen original works by great masters, and 90% of their work is dealing with forgeries. Therefore, such experts can determine authenticity and distinguish a forgery from an original.

What are the attribution services (establishing authorship) for a painting, graphic work, or sculpture?

Attribution, Expert Conclusion

Establish authorship of a painting by style, artist's signature, determining the period of creation, description of which series the work belongs to, and which exhibitions it participated in.

Scientific and Technical Bureau Report

Examination of the artist's work using specialized equipment - X-ray, spectral analysis, ultraviolet, puncture; establishing the exact period of creation, authorship, authenticity.

Historical Reference of Museum, Institute

Examination of the artist's work using specialized equipment - X-ray, spectral analysis, ultraviolet, puncture; involvement of a team of state experts, establishing authenticity, describing the plot of the painting, its history, the artist's biography.

The cost of a painting examination is individual and depends on the type of examination. If it is only necessary to determine the period of creation of the painting, then a laboratory or restoration workshop can handle this. If it is necessary to establish and confirm the author of the work, then this complex task will be handled by an expert who has several other paintings by the same artist. This will allow comparing the technique, character, period of painting, and the artist's signature style.

As an example, we attach a scanned copy of one of the conclusions of a state museum:

We also help in obtaining permission to export paintings from Ukraine. In this case, the painting must have been created after 1950.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a painting examination is an important process for determining its value and authenticity, conducted before buying or selling. It includes attribution, authenticity examination, or art historical examination, each of which allows determining different aspects of the painting. The cost of the examination can vary depending on the complexity and scope of the work, but in any case, it is an important step in protecting your investment in art.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to prove copyright on a painting, artwork?

To prove copyright on a painting, it is necessary to provide documents confirming authorship, such as a certificate of copyright registration or a contract for the creation of paintings.

How much does an examination of paintings cost?

The cost of an examination of paintings depends on several factors, such as the complexity of the work, the experience of the expert, and the required timeframes for completing the order. Usually, the cost of an examination starts from several thousand hryvnias.

How to confirm the authenticity of a painting?

To confirm the authenticity of a painting, you can order an examination conducted by qualified specialists. You can also contact antique stores or galleries where experts can determine the authenticity of the painting.

Where to order an examination of paintings?

An examination of paintings can be ordered in specialized organizations engaged in the examination and evaluation of artworks. You can also contact us, and we will help you select qualified experts.

How does a painting examination proceed?

A painting examination takes place in several stages: collecting and analyzing information about the artwork, conducting a chemical examination of the materials used to create the painting, and a visual examination. Based on the examination results, a conclusion is made about the authenticity of the artwork.

How to obtain a certificate for a painting?

To obtain a certificate for a painting, you need to order an examination, after which experts will issue a conclusion on the authenticity of the painting and provide a certificate. It is also possible to obtain a certificate for paintings purchased at auction houses, where evaluation examinations of artworks are often conducted.