COULD YOUR ARTWORK BE BY ROGER DE LA FRESNAYE?

Previously unknown works by important artists continue to emerge from private collections, estates, inheritances, and long-held family possessions. While authentic works by Roger de La Fresnaye 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, drawing, watercolor, gouache, print, sculpture, or other work on paper may be by Roger de La Fresnaye, obtaining an independent professional opinion is the appropriate first step. La Fresnaye was an important French painter associated with Cubism and is especially known for compositions that combined geometric simplification with clear structure, rich color, and an enduring interest in recognizable subjects. His work includes portraits, figure paintings, still lifes, landscapes, military subjects, drawings, and sculpture. His 1911 painting Artillery is a major early example of his Cubism, while The Conquest of the Air of 1913 is generally regarded as one of his most important mature works.

We have specialized in the authentication of works attributed to Roger de La Fresnaye 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 Roger de La Fresnaye?

From a single photograph of ordinary quality, we can often determine whether a work appears consistent with La Fresnaye’s work or whether it clearly does not. His production evolved from comparatively traditional early work toward an increasingly geometric Cubist language and later returned toward more classical forms, so the proposed date, subject, medium, support, composition, palette, drawing, paint handling, signature, inscriptions, and provenance must all be considered. La Fresnaye was active within Cubism from approximately 1911, and museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art identify him among the artists who adopted and developed the movement’s visual language.

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 Roger de La Fresnaye today?

Yes. La Fresnaye produced paintings, drawings, watercolors, studies, prints, and sculptural work during his relatively brief career. Previously undocumented examples can remain in private collections, estates, family holdings, and collections that have not been publicly exhibited or thoroughly researched.

Do I need to get my Roger de La Fresnaye 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 Roger de La Fresnaye authenticated?

Not for you. Simply send us photographs of the entire front and reverse, close-up photographs of the painted or drawn surface, signature, date, inscriptions, labels, stamps, canvas, panel, board, paper, stretcher, frame, and other important details, together with the dimensions and anything you know about the work’s history. The investigation itself is our responsibility.

How long does it take to authenticate a Roger de La Fresnaye?

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 Roger de La Fresnaye?

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

Can a signature alone prove that a Roger de La Fresnaye work is authentic?

No. A signature or inscription is only one element of evidence and cannot establish authenticity by itself. It must be evaluated together with the work’s materials, technique, support, date, provenance, and other physical and documentary characteristics.

Can an unsigned Roger de La Fresnaye work still be authentic?

Yes. The absence of a visible signature does not by itself establish that a painting, drawing, or work on paper is inauthentic. Attribution should be based on the complete body of evidence, including materials, technique, support, date, provenance, and comparison with securely documented works.

What documents help authenticate a Roger de La Fresnaye?

Any document that mentions, describes, illustrates, or refers to the work may assist the authentication. Historic photographs, invoices, correspondence, exhibition catalogues, gallery and dealer records, collection catalogues, conservation reports, insurance documents, auction records, collection inventories, family papers, and previous ownership records can all contribute valuable evidence.

Can a Roger de La Fresnaye work be authenticated from photographs?

Yes. High-quality photography is an extremely useful authentication tool and allows us to study composition, geometric construction, drawing, color relationships, brushwork, paint application, paper, canvas, signatures, inscriptions, labels, 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 Roger de La Fresnaye?

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, binders, canvas, board, paper, grounds, varnishes, inks, or the age and composition of other materials.

Are Cubist characteristics important in Roger de La Fresnaye authentication?

Yes. La Fresnaye adopted Cubist principles while maintaining a distinctive concern for clarity, recognizable form, and carefully structured composition. Geometric simplification, overlapping planes, spatial construction, color relationships, and the balance between abstraction and representation can therefore provide useful comparative evidence. Cubist appearance alone, however, can never establish authenticity. The Metropolitan Museum of Art specifically notes the geometric rendering of form in his 1911 Artillery.

Are La Fresnaye’s different periods important for authentication?

Yes. Correctly identifying the proposed period is essential. Early works differ from the Cubist paintings of approximately 1911–1914, while later works can show a movement toward greater naturalism and classical restraint. A work should therefore be compared with securely documented examples from the appropriate phase of his career. MoMA has noted that his Cubism became progressively less literal and reached a high point in The Conquest of the Air.

Are military subjects important in Roger de La Fresnaye authentication?

They can be. Military imagery appeared in important early Cubist works such as Artillery of 1911, which depicts officers, soldiers, horses, a field gun, and a military band. Subject matter, uniform details, compositional geometry, palette, and relationship to documented works can therefore assist in evaluating an attributed military composition.

Are portraits and figure paintings important in La Fresnaye authentication?

Yes. La Fresnaye produced portraits and figurative compositions throughout his career. Facial construction, pose, anatomy, geometric simplification, palette, brushwork, and the relationship between the figure and surrounding space can all provide useful comparative evidence.

Are still lifes important when authenticating Roger de La Fresnaye?

Yes. Still life was an important Cubist subject, and La Fresnaye produced works in this genre. MoMA’s records, for example, document a still life dating from around 1914. Objects, spatial structure, geometric planes, color, support, and paint handling should therefore be compared with documented examples.

What if my Roger de La Fresnaye has no provenance?

Incomplete provenance is common. When provenance is incomplete, authentication relies more heavily on research, technical examination, photography, analysis of materials and inscriptions, comparison with documented works, and, where appropriate, scientific testing.

Do you issue Certificates of Authenticity for Roger de La Fresnaye 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 Roger de La Fresnaye worth?

We will appraise your work and determine its value. Date, period, subject, medium, dimensions, condition, provenance, rarity, quality, exhibition history, publication history, and current market demand can all materially affect value. Major Cubist paintings, important portraits and figure compositions, still lifes, drawings, watercolors, and other works on paper may occupy very different areas of La Fresnaye’s market.

SELLING

Can you sell my Roger de La Fresnaye 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 Roger de La Fresnaye?

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 Roger de La Fresnaye?

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 Roger de La Fresnaye?

Yes. Authentication, provenance, valuation, timing, presentation, exhibition history, publication history, 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 Roger de La Fresnaye before selling it?

Usually not. Original paint surfaces, varnishes, canvas, panels, papers, labels, inscriptions, stretcher construction, and frames can provide important evidence during authentication and may also affect value. We generally recommend having the work evaluated before undertaking cleaning, relining, retouching, varnish removal, flattening, or other restoration.

How long does it take to sell a Roger de La Fresnaye?

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 Roger de La Fresnaye?

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

Can you review a Roger de La Fresnaye 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 Roger de La Fresnaye?

Three fundamental questions should always be answered: Is it authentic? What is its condition? Is the price reasonable? For La Fresnaye, the proposed date, period, subject, medium, dimensions, support, geometric construction, palette, drawing, brushwork, signature, inscriptions, provenance, exhibition history, publication history, and relationship to documented works from the same period can all be particularly important.

How can I avoid buying a fake Roger de La Fresnaye?

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, incorrectly dated, incorrectly described, reproduced, 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 ROGER DE LA FRESNAYE 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 Roger de La Fresnaye, 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.