FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. HOW CAN I TELL IF AN ARTWORK NEEDS PROFESSIONAL AUTHENTICATION?

If your artwork shows signs of age, carries an important signature, resembles the style of a known artist, or came from an unclear source, it should be professionally authenticated. Authentication is especially recommended before selling, insuring, or restoring a piece.

2. WHAT ARE THE FIRST SIGNS THAT A PAINTING MAY NOT BE AUTHENTIC?

Inconsistent signatures, unusual materials, incorrect aging patterns, inaccurate subject matter, and stylistic deviations can all be early indicators. However, these clues alone cannot confirm authenticity — only a trained expert evaluation can.

3. HOW DOES PROFESSIONAL AUTHENTICATION INCREASE THE VALUE OF A PAINTING?

Authentication provides certainty, documentation, and scholarly justification. A verified artwork typically commands significantly higher value at galleries, private sales, and auctions. Without authentication, even high-quality works often sell at a fraction of their potential worth.

4. CAN A PAINTING BE AUTHENTICATED WITHOUT PHYSICAL INSPECTION?

In many cases, experts can begin with high-resolution photos and supporting documentation. However, depending on the artwork, a physical inspection may still be required for conclusive results, especially when scientific testing is necessary.

5. HOW ACCURATE ARE ONLINE ART AUTHENTICATION SERVICES?

Accuracy depends on the expertise behind the service. True authentication requires trained art historians, scientific analysis, provenance research, and experience — not just photo comparisons. Reliable online services combine all of these elements rather than relying solely on digital tools.

6. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AUTHENTICATION, VERIFICATION, AND ATTRIBUTION?

Authentication confirms that the artwork is genuinely by the artist. Verification checks whether elements such as signatures or labels appear consistent. Attribution suggests possible authorship when certainty is not yet established. These distinctions are important and can affect value and market acceptance.

7. CAN YOU AUTHENTICATE A PAINTING THAT HAS BEEN RESTORED OR DAMAGED?

Yes. Many historical artworks have undergone restoration or suffered damage over time. Experts analyze underlying layers, materials, brushwork, and provenance to form a conclusion even when the surface has been altered.

8. HOW DO I KNOW WHETHER MY ARTWORK IS WORTH AUTHENTICATING?

If your artwork resembles the style of a listed artist, came from an estate or auction, has an old label, or has any signature or monogram, it may be worth authenticating. Even unsigned pieces can have significant value. You may contact Art Experts for an initial assessment.

9. DO YOU AUTHENTICATE ARTWORKS BY WELL-KNOWN MODERN ARTISTS SUCH AS WARHOL, BASQUIAT, OR HARING?

Yes, modern and contemporary masters often require expert examination due to widespread forgeries. Authentication may involve stylistic analysis, provenance research, technology-assisted investigation, and comparison with known works.

10. CAN YOU AUTHENTICATE OLD MASTER PAINTINGS FROM THE 16TH–18TH CENTURIES?

Yes. Old Masters often present complex challenges due to age, restoration, and historical gaps, but they can be authenticated through material analysis, period research, and comparison with documented works.

11. DO YOU AUTHENTICATE RUSSIAN, EASTERN EUROPEAN, OR ASIAN ARTISTS?

Yes. These categories often have unique provenance issues and regional variations in materials. Specialists familiar with these markets can analyze style, technique, historical context, and supporting documentation.

12. CAN YOU AUTHENTICATE WORKS FROM ARTISTS WHOSE CATALOGUE RAISONNÉ IS DISPUTED OR INCOMPLETE?

Yes. Many catalogues raisonnés are outdated or limited. Experts rely on a combination of academic research, comparative study, and scientific testing to form conclusions whether or not the catalogue is complete.

13. DO YOU AUTHENTICATE UNSIGNED PAINTINGS ATTRIBUTED TO FAMOUS ARTISTS?

Yes. Many historic and even modern artists produced unsigned works. Authentication focuses on stylistic traits, technique, materials, period consistency, and provenance rather than signatures alone.

14. CAN YOU AUTHENTICATE ARTWORKS FROM EMERGING OR LESSER-KNOWN CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS?

Yes. Contemporary artists often lack formal catalogues or extensive documentation, making expert evaluation particularly important. Authentication for such works combines research, artist records, and direct comparative analysis.

15. DO YOU HAVE AN EXPERT IN MY AREA?

We have experts all over North America and Europe.

16. CAN YOU RECOMMEND AN EXPERT IN MY AREA?

We travel frequently to many states and countries and can easily arrange to meet you and examine your artwork.

17. WHAT KIND OF ARTWORK DO YOU AUTHENTICATE?

We authenticate paintings, works on paper, sculpture, and bronzes.

18. WHERE SHOULD I TAKE A PAINTING TO FIND OUT IF IT IS AUTHENTIC?

Please contact us by email (info@artexpertswebsite.com) to begin the authentication process.

19. DO YOU ISSUE CERTIFICATES OF AUTHENTICITY?

Yes. Art Experts has over 23 years of experience issuing certificates of authenticity for paintings, watercolors, drawings, prints, sculpture, and bronzes.

20. HOW LONG DOES THE AUTHENTICATION PROCESS TAKE?

It may take a week to a month, depending on the complexity of the case.

21. MY PAINTING IS BY AN UNKNOWN PAINTER. CAN YOU HELP ME?

We have a great deal of experience working on attributions, and may be able to crack the case.

22. CAN YOU ALSO DO APPRAISALS?

Yes, we are USPAP-certified appraisers whose appraisals are accepted for insurance, taxes, estates, legal, and other official purposes.

23. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I MUST SEE AN EXPERT OVERSEAS. IS THAT NECESSARY?

No. Our international team of art historians includes official experts for many artists.

24. DO AUCTION HOUSES, GALLERIES, AND PRIVATE BUYERS ACCEPT YOUR CERTIFICATES OF AUTHENTICITY?

Yes, we have an international reputation for integrity, accuracy, and scholarship. Many times, the reasoning and details in our report and certificate of authenticity are critical in helping to sell an artwork. We cannot, however, be responsible for the unpredictability of the auction market, galleries, or private buyers.

25. SHOULD I SEND MY PAINTING TO YOU?

No, we do not have the facilities to accommodate artwork sent to us. We would be pleased to examine your picture in person or work from your photographs. You must insure a valuable item like a painting or sculpture before shipping it anywhere; but it cannot be insured until we determine its authenticity.

26. WE HAVE NO PROVENANCE (HISTORY OF OWNERSHIP) FOR OUR PAINTING.

Our team has been researching provenances since 2002, in addition to providing art authentication services. We have undertaken systematic provenance research in cases involving complicated, international chains of ownership.

27. CAN’T I RESEARCH THE PROVENANCE MYSELF?

It is more efficient to have an objective, trained professional do it. Some of the information is intricate, not all of it is publicly available, and access to specialized libraries and archives is often necessary.

28. CAN YOU HELP ME SELL MY PAINTING, OR SELL IT FOR ME?

We will provide you with guidance and advice and put you in touch with a trusted and reliable art broker.

29. MY PAINTING IS NOT IN THE CATALOGUE RAISONNÉ. CAN YOU HELP ME?

Yes, new works are always being discovered; catalogues raisonnés are rarely complete or infallibly accurate.

30. WHAT ABOUT PIGMENT ANALYSIS OR INFRARED TECHNOLOGY FOR AUTHENTICATION?

These methods alone will not authenticate a painting. Pigment analysis can help determine age; infrared can reveal underdrawings or changes. But neither will confirm authorship or substitute for provenance and comparative analysis.

31. WHAT ARE YOUR CREDENTIALS?

We hold undergraduate and graduate degrees in art history from top institutions. Some of us have PhDs, and many have taught art history, worked as critics, or served as certified appraisers.

32. DO YOU AUTHENTICATE PAINTINGS WITH AI?

We use AI as one of several tools in our authentication process. However, AI alone cannot determine with 100% certainty whether a painting is authentic or not. It can only provide a probability, and the art market does not operate on probabilities — it requires certainty.

33. DO YOU USE AI?

Yes, we use AI every day. It's a bit like using an iPhone — a modern tool that assists us constantly. We rely on AI several times a day in our workflow.

34. HOW DOES AI HELP IN AUTHENTICATING PAINTINGS?

AI can rapidly search through vast amounts of information, saving us hours, days, or even weeks of manual work. It also performs complex calculations instantly, greatly enhancing our efficiency.

35. IS AI RELIABLE FOR ART AUTHENTICATION?

AI has its limitations. One of its known weaknesses is the tendency to produce errors — often referred to as "hallucinations." If you're familiar with AI tools, you've likely encountered these mistakes. They're easy to catch when you already know the correct information — but if you don’t, the error might go unnoticed. That’s why we always double-check and verify critical AI outputs.

36. ARE AI AUTHENTICATIONS BETTER THAN THOSE DONE BY ART HISTORIANS?

AI does not authenticate. It can only generate a probability, and training an AI to even reach that point is time-consuming and expensive. While AI authentications are not better in themselves, they enhance the report by providing additional information and data that can make the findings more compelling.

37. ARE AI AUTHENTICATIONS MORE EXPENSIVE?

No. In fact, because AI allows us to complete certain tasks faster, it reduces the overall cost of authentication. But again, AI does not authenticate — it provides estimates or probabilities that support the broader process.

38. HOW LONG DO AI-SUPPORTED AUTHENTICATIONS TAKE?

Since AI speeds up many tasks, the process typically takes about half as long as it did before we integrated AI.

39. ARE AI AUTHENTICATIONS RECOGNIZED BY MAJOR INSTITUTIONS?

No. They are not recognized by:

• Major auction houses
• Insurance companies
• The IRS
• Private collectors
• Museums and cultural institutions
• Law enforcement or agencies like Interpol

40. IS IT HARDER TO SELL A PAINTING AUTHENTICATED BY AI?

Yes — because AI does not authenticate. If you ask AI whether a painting is authentic, it might respond with a probability or uncertainty. As such, a painting authenticated only by AI cannot be sold at full market value, as this would be based on speculation rather than certainty.

41. DOES AI MAKE AUTHENTICATION MISTAKES?

Yes. AI can and does make many mistakes, especially when used alone. There have already been several known cases of errors in AI-based authentication.

42. DOES AI ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR TRADITIONAL TESTING METHODS?

No. AI does not eliminate the need for:

• Pigment analysis
• Carbon dating
• Signature examination
• X-rays
• High-resolution photography
• Ultraviolet or infrared examination
• Raking light photos
• Macro photography
• RAW photo format
• Materials testing and identification
• Dendrochronology (for panel paintings)
• Provenance research
• Documentary research
• Forensic studies
• Canvas or paper analysis
• Archive research
• Art library research
• Thermoluminescence dating (for ceramics)
• Authenticating art ceramics

43. DOES AI IMPROVE THE ACCURACY OF SCIENTIFIC TESTING DURING AUTHENTICATION?

AI can enhance the interpretation of scientific results by identifying correlations or patterns more quickly. However, it does not replace laboratory equipment or the expertise required to analyze pigments, materials, or aging phenomena.

44. WHAT IS AI MOST USEFUL FOR IN PAINTING AUTHENTICATION?

AI is especially helpful for gathering information from the web, rapidly and at scale.

45. HOW DOES AI HELP ANALYZE BRUSHSTROKES, TEXTURES, OR PATTERNS IN A PAINTING?

AI can identify repeating patterns, stroke rhythms, layering habits, and structural features that may be characteristic of a particular artist or period. These observations are useful supporting data for experts conducting a full evaluation.

46. WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM ME TO BEGIN USING AI ON MY PAINTING?

To begin, we’ll need:

• High-quality photos of the painting
• Dimensions
• Any information you already have — such as:
  • When and where you acquired the artwork
  • From whom it was acquired
  • Copies of any documents you possess related to the piece

47. WHAT TYPES OF AI TOOLS ARE MOST EFFECTIVE IN SUPPORTING ART AUTHENTICATION RESEARCH?

AI tools are particularly useful for image comparison, stylistic pattern detection, database searching, archival retrieval, and pattern analysis. They streamline research but do not replace human judgment or scientific testing.

48. CAN AI COMPARE MY PAINTING TO KNOWN WORKS BY THE SAME ARTIST?

Yes. AI can rapidly analyze image features and compare them against large datasets of known artworks. This helps identify similarities and inconsistencies more quickly than manual comparison alone. The findings still require expert interpretation.

49. WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF RELYING SOLELY ON AI FOR EVALUATING ARTWORK?

AI can make errors, misinterpret images, and overlook subtleties that experts recognize. It lacks contextual understanding, historical insight, and nuanced perception. Relying solely on AI can lead to incorrect conclusions — which is why professional evaluation remains essential.

50. HOW DO HUMAN EXPERTS AND AI WORK TOGETHER DURING THE AUTHENTICATION PROCESS?

AI assists by gathering data, searching archives, analyzing imagery, and speeding up repetitive tasks. Human experts then interpret this information using academic knowledge, historical insight, connoisseurship, and forensic evaluation. The combination produces faster and more informed conclusions.