The journey of a new client Many clients invest heavily in authentication services, often leading to disappointing results.
A recent example involved a customer who believed she owned a Claude Monet painting.
She engaged a reputable company for authentication, spending $15,000 over several months, only to be informed the painting was not by Monet.
Key Insights on Unsigned Paintings:
An unsigned painting often suggests the artist didn’t consider it finished and deferred signing until satisfied with its completion.
Artists rarely sign incomplete works—a fundamental principle in the art world.
For a painting to be authenticated, especially as a Monet, it typically requires a signature and solid provenance.
Convincing institutions like the Wildenstein Institute of authenticity is already challenging for signed works; for unsigned pieces without provenance, it is virtually impossible.
While some old masters did not always sign their works, unsigned modern paintings are exceedingly rare unless linked to atelier sales (e.g., Degas or Corot).
The Client’s Journey:
The customer later speculated her painting might be a Manet rather than a Monet.
Upon examination, the work showed signs of age and was skillfully executed, potentially by a major artist or as a period copy.
I advised her that identifying the artist without a signature would require an extensive budget, with success chances being less than 0.1%. Without significant resources, pursuing this was impractical.
A Turn of Fortune:
The same client returned with a signed Degas.
This time, the painting was authenticated by Brame and Lorenceau, confirming its genuineness.
www.vwart.com. art expert
gerard van weyenbergh
very helpful articles