COULD YOUR ARTWORK BE BY THOMAS EAKINS?

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

If you believe your painting, watercolor, drawing, or photograph may be by Thomas Eakins, obtaining an independent professional opinion is the appropriate first step.

We have specialized in the authentication of works attributed to Thomas Eakins 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 work 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 Thomas Eakins?

From a single photograph of ordinary quality, we can often determine whether a work appears consistent with Thomas Eakins’s work or whether it clearly does not. Eakins worked in oil, watercolor, drawing, sculpture, and photography, and he also used photographs extensively in developing compositions, so the medium, technique, and relationship to preparatory material can be important.

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 Thomas Eakins today?

Yes. Eakins produced paintings, watercolors, drawings, photographs, and studies throughout his career, and works can survive with incomplete histories or uncertain attributions. A previously undocumented work with convincing characteristics can therefore merit investigation.

Do I need to get my Thomas Eakins authenticated?

Yes. Authentication is essential if you wish to sell your work 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 Thomas Eakins authenticated?

Not for you. For paintings, send photographs of the front and reverse and close-ups of important details; for drawings, watercolors, and photographs, include the entire sheet or print, margins, inscriptions, stamps, labels, and relevant markings. The investigation itself is our responsibility.

How long does it take to authenticate a Thomas Eakins?

It depends on how much is already known about the work 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 Thomas Eakins?

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 Thomas Eakins painting is authentic?

No. A signature must be evaluated together with the painting’s technique, materials, date, provenance, and other physical and documentary evidence. A signature alone cannot establish authenticity.

Can an unsigned Thomas Eakins painting still be authentic?

Yes. The absence of a signature does not by itself make a painting inauthentic. Attribution depends on the complete stylistic, technical, physical, and documentary evidence.

What documents help authenticate a Thomas Eakins work?

Any document that mentions, describes, illustrates, or refers to the work may assist the authentication. Photographs, invoices, correspondence, exhibition records, restoration or conservation reports, insurance documents, auction records, gallery labels, and family papers can all contribute valuable evidence.

Can a Thomas Eakins work be authenticated from photographs?

Yes. High-quality photography is an extremely useful authentication tool and allows us to study composition, paint handling, drawing technique, photographic process, inscriptions, condition, and other important characteristics 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 Thomas Eakins?

No. Many works can be authenticated through research, provenance investigation, comparative analysis, and technical examination. Scientific testing is generally reserved for more difficult cases when questions remain concerning pigments, grounds, supports, paper, photographic processes, or other materials.

What if my Thomas Eakins has no provenance?

Incomplete provenance is common. When provenance is incomplete, authentication relies more heavily on research, technical examination, photography, and, where appropriate, scientific testing.

Do you issue Certificates of Authenticity for Thomas Eakins works?

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 Thomas Eakins work worth?

We will appraise your work and determine its value. Medium, date, subject, dimensions, condition, provenance, rarity, quality, and current market demand are among the principal valuation factors. For photographs, printing process, printing date, and relationship to Eakins’s original negative can also be important.

SELLING

Can you sell my Thomas Eakins 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 Thomas Eakins?

Yes. Your work 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 Thomas Eakins?

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

Can you help me maximize the selling price of my Thomas Eakins?

Yes. Authentication, provenance, valuation, 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 Thomas Eakins before selling it?

Usually not. Buyers often have their own preferences regarding conservation and restoration. We generally recommend selling the work in its present condition unless there is a compelling conservation reason to intervene.

How long does it take to sell a Thomas Eakins?

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

BUYING & ADVISORY

Should I buy a Thomas Eakins?

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

Can you review a Thomas Eakins 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 Thomas Eakins?

Three fundamental questions should always be answered: Is it authentic? What is its condition? Is the price reasonable? For photographs, it is also important to establish the photographic process, printing date, authorship of the print, and its relationship to an original Eakins negative, since later prints from his negatives are known.

How can I avoid buying a fake Thomas Eakins?

Call us before you buy. An independent review before completing the purchase is one of the simplest ways to reduce the risk of acquiring a forged, later, or misattributed work.

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 THOMAS EAKINS 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 work attributed to Thomas Eakins, our specialists are available to assist.

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