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Provenance Research
Elihu Vedder, "Head of Minerva [Roman goddess of wisdom]," (1896)
oil on canvas, preparatory study for mosaic, Library of Congress, Prints &
Photographs Division, Washington, DC.
Art Experts has unparalleled experience in provenance research. For nearly twenty years, we have successfully cracked the provenance mysteries of paintings and sculpture. We are art detectives, working doggedly in specialized archives around the world. We know how to get the most out of our research time and how to solve provenance questions strategically.
The origin of the word provenance is in the French provenir, meaning to originate. It has its roots in the Latin provenire, which means to come forth. For a work of art, provenance refers to the history of its ownership.
In investigating a work of art, provenance is a priority but not the only test of authenticity. Lack of provenance is not a serious impediment to authenticity if the piece can pass other tests. The older the work of art the less clear its provenance is likely to be. But the converse is not necessarily true: often a relatively recent work will have an ambiguous provenance.
Tracing provenance is a meticulous process dependent on the mastery of minutiae. Such primary evidence is found only in specialized archives.
Art Experts researchers have a rare in-depth knowledge of how to disentangle difficult provenances. But we understand that a complete provenance is unusual. Provenance is one of many clues that a painting is authentic. |
