COULD YOUR PAINTING BE BY CARAVAGGIO?

Previously unknown works by important artists continue to emerge from private collections, estates, inheritances, and long-held family possessions. While authentic works by Caravaggio may be exceptionally rare, every painting deserves to be evaluated on its own merits rather than dismissed simply because it is unfamiliar or undocumented.

If you believe your painting may be by Caravaggio, obtaining an independent professional opinion is the appropriate first step. Caravaggio, born Michelangelo Merisi, was principally a painter, and his surviving accepted oeuvre consists overwhelmingly of paintings.

We have specialized in the authentication of works attributed to Caravaggio since 2002. We issue Certificates of Authenticity (COAs), Authentication Reports, appraisals, valuations, provenance reports, and provide buying, selling, brokerage, and investment advisory services for collectors, attorneys, insurers, financial institutions, estates, museums, and private clients worldwide.

Getting started is straightforward. Simply send us photographs of the painting together with its dimensions and any information you have regarding its history or ownership. After reviewing the material, we will recommend the most appropriate course of action.

AUTHENTICATION

Is this a Caravaggio?

From a single photograph of ordinary quality, we can often determine whether a painting appears consistent with Caravaggio’s work or whether it clearly does not. A first impression may not be definitive because Caravaggio’s revolutionary style was enormously influential and was imitated by numerous painters throughout Italy and Europe.

What services do you provide?

We provide authentication, certification, Certificates of Authenticity (COAs), Authentication Reports, appraisals and valuations, provenance research, private sales and brokerage, investment advice, and analytical art market research.

Is it possible to discover a previously unknown Caravaggio today?

Yes. Caravaggio’s surviving oeuvre is relatively small, but paintings attributed to him and works connected with his circle continue to be investigated and reassessed. A previously undocumented painting with credible physical and historical evidence therefore deserves careful examination rather than automatic rejection.

Do I need to get my Caravaggio authenticated?

Yes. Authentication is essential if you wish to sell your painting for its full market value. It is also important for insurance, estate planning, charitable donations, financing, and many legal purposes.

Is it complicated to get a Caravaggio authenticated?

Not for you. Simply send us photographs of the front and reverse, close-ups of the paint surface, canvas or other support, inscriptions, labels, seals, stamps, stretcher, and frame, together with the dimensions and anything you know about the painting’s history. The investigation itself is our responsibility.

How long does it take to authenticate a Caravaggio?

It depends on how much is already known about the painting when we begin the investigation. In the simplest cases, authenticity can be confirmed within a couple of weeks. More complex cases may require several months.

How much does it cost to authenticate a Caravaggio?

From the low hundreds to the high thousands. It depends on how much is already known and documented, where relevant archives are located, and whether travel or scientific testing is required.

Can a signature alone prove that a Caravaggio painting is authentic?

No. A signature or inscription must be evaluated together with technique, materials, support, date, provenance, composition, and documentary evidence. Authentication of a painting attributed to Caravaggio depends on the complete body of evidence rather than on a signature alone.

Can an unsigned Caravaggio painting still be authentic?

Yes. The absence of a signature does not by itself establish that a painting is inauthentic. Attribution must instead consider technique, materials, provenance, date, documentary evidence, and comparison with securely accepted paintings.

What documents help authenticate a Caravaggio painting?

Any document that mentions, describes, illustrates, or refers to the painting may assist the authentication. Historic inventories, photographs, invoices, correspondence, exhibition records, conservation reports, insurance documents, auction records, scholarly publications, and family papers can all contribute valuable evidence.

Can a Caravaggio painting be authenticated from photographs?

Yes. High-quality photography is an extremely useful first-stage authentication tool and allows us to study composition, paint handling, surface, support, inscriptions, labels, seals, and condition remotely. When additional evidence is required, we may recommend an in-person examination. We examine works worldwide.

Is it always necessary to perform scientific analyses of a Caravaggio?

No. Many paintings can initially be assessed through provenance research, documentary investigation, comparative analysis, and technical examination. Scientific testing may become important when questions remain concerning pigments, binders, grounds, canvas, alterations, restorations, or other physical characteristics.

What if my Caravaggio has no provenance?

Incomplete provenance does not automatically mean that a painting is inauthentic. For a proposed Caravaggio, however, unexplained gaps in ownership history require careful investigation, and greater weight may need to be placed on technical, documentary, and scientific evidence.

Why is Caravaggio attribution particularly difficult?

Caravaggio’s dramatic naturalism and use of strongly directed light influenced a large international group of painters now commonly described as Caravaggists. A convincing attribution therefore requires distinguishing Caravaggio’s own technique from the work of close followers, contemporaries, copies, and later imitators.

Did Caravaggio have many followers and imitators?

Yes. His approach to painting had an extraordinary impact throughout Europe, influencing artists in Italy, France, Spain, the Netherlands, and elsewhere. A painting that looks strongly “Caravaggesque” is therefore not necessarily by Caravaggio himself.

Is dramatic chiaroscuro enough to identify a Caravaggio?

No. Strong contrasts between illuminated figures and dark backgrounds are characteristic of many works by Caravaggio, particularly his later paintings, but the same visual language was adopted by numerous followers. Technique, materials, construction, provenance, and documentary evidence must also support the attribution.

Do you issue Certificates of Authenticity for Caravaggio paintings?

Yes. Upon completion of the authentication, we issue a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) together with a detailed and fully referenced Authentication Report.

APPRAISALS & VALUATIONS

How much is my Caravaggio painting worth?

We will appraise your painting and determine its value. Important factors include authenticity, subject, date, dimensions, quality, condition, provenance, scholarly history, exhibition history, rarity, and current market demand.

SELLING

Can you sell my Caravaggio for me?

Yes. We specialize in private sales but use every appropriate selling method to obtain the highest possible net price. We manage the process professionally, confidentially, and on your behalf.

Do I need an appraisal before selling my Caravaggio?

Yes. Your painting should be priced correctly for the country, market, and method of sale. An independent appraisal helps prevent both underpricing and overpricing.

Do I need authentication before selling my Caravaggio?

Yes. Without authentication, your painting may sell for only a fraction of its potential market value.

Can you help me maximize the selling price of my Caravaggio?

Yes. Authentication, provenance, valuation, condition, scholarly documentation, timing, presentation, and the chosen sales method can all influence the final result. We also provide collection management advice designed to maximize value.

Should I restore my Caravaggio before selling it?

Usually not. Original paint surfaces, old varnishes, canvas structures, labels, seals, inscriptions, and previous restorations can provide important evidence during authentication. We generally recommend obtaining specialist advice before cleaning, relining, retouching, or otherwise altering an Old Master painting.

How long does it take to sell a Caravaggio?

Higher-value works generally require more time to sell because there are fewer qualified buyers. Correct authentication, strong documentation, condition assessment, pricing, and the appropriate sales method all contribute to a successful sale.

BUYING & ADVISORY

Should I buy a Caravaggio?

If you enjoy Caravaggio’s work, certainly. If your primary objective is investment, we can evaluate the proposed acquisition and alternative opportunities.

Can you review a Caravaggio before I buy it?

Yes. We provide independent pre-purchase research and analysis for collectors and investors. We also prepare predictive art market forecasts and Buy-Hold-Sell recommendations.

What should I check before buying a Caravaggio?

Three fundamental questions should always be answered: Is it authentic? What is its condition? Is the price reasonable? For Caravaggio, provenance, date, subject, technical characteristics, restoration history, documentary evidence, and possible relationships with known compositions are particularly important.

How can I avoid buying a fake or misattributed Caravaggio?

Call us before you buy. Because Caravaggio’s style generated an extensive international following, paintings described historically as “Caravaggio,” “school of Caravaggio,” or “Caravaggesque” require careful differentiation. Independent examination before purchase is one of the simplest ways to reduce the risk of acquiring a forged or incorrectly attributed painting.

Can you advise me on building a collection?

Yes. We advise collectors on the financial aspects of acquisition, ownership, collection management, and eventual sale.

REQUEST A CARAVAGGIO AUTHENTICATION OR APPRAISAL

Whether you require authentication, a Certificate of Authenticity, an appraisal, valuation, provenance research, buying advice, selling assistance, brokerage, or investment guidance regarding a painting attributed to Caravaggio, our specialists are available to assist.

Complete the contact form below or call us at +1 (212) 658-0466 to discuss your painting with one of our experts.