- 1). Know whom you are dealing with. If you are looking to make a considerable investment in art, you are best to stick with trusted sources, such as reputable auction houses and galleries. While you may find a lot of artwork being sold at flea markets or over the Internet, it is difficult to certify that what you bought was an original.
- 2). Learn what you can about the artist. If the artist is well known, there should be volumes of information documenting their style, technique and methods. Even if the artist is not as famous, a simple Internet search should be able to turn up a lot of information about them. Be wary about artists on which you cannot find any information.
- 3). Ask the seller about the painting. High-end pieces of artwork come with a long paper trail that will document who previously owned the artwork, as well as any certificates of authenticity.
- 4). Look out for prints masquerading as paintings. There are many sellers, particularly over the Internet, who will take photographs, modify them digitally, and then coat them with a clear acrylic base to simulate brush strokes. Any original painting will have many layers of paint on the canvas. Upon close inspection, you can see that the copies will only have one layer of paint on them.
- 5). Get up close to the painting and look for clues. Even if the copy was painted and is not a print, there are many telltale signs to determine if a painting is an original, especially if it is old. Oil paintings, in particular, take a long time to dry, and will often still smell like oil for many years after they have been painted. Other things to note are the canvas it was painted on. Older canvases were not stapled, but tied to their frames. If you see that a painting has staples, but was painted in the 18th century, you are probably looking at a copy.
- 6). Get an expert opinion. If you are looking at making a large investment, it is best to have the painting independently appraised by either a notable scholar or an artwork investigation firm. These individuals are highly trained at detecting duplicates and can help ensure that your purchase is original.
SHARE
