COULD YOUR PAINTING BE BY GIOTTO?

Previously unknown works by important artists continue to emerge from private collections, estates, inheritances, and long-held family possessions. While authentic paintings by Giotto are exceptionally 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 may be by Giotto, obtaining an independent professional opinion is the appropriate first step.

We have specialized in the authentication of works attributed to Giotto 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 Giotto?

From a single photograph of ordinary quality, we can often determine whether a painting appears consistent with Giotto’s work or whether it clearly does not. Giotto’s securely accepted panel paintings are few, while questions of workshop participation and later followers make attribution particularly 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 Giotto today?

Yes. Paintings from the early fourteenth century can survive with incomplete histories, altered formats, or old attributions. Because distinctions between Giotto, his workshop, followers, and related painters remain important, an unfamiliar early work can merit serious investigation.

Do I need to get my Giotto 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 Giotto authenticated?

Not for you. Simply send us photographs of the front and reverse, edges and panel construction where visible, close-ups of the painted and gilded surfaces, 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 Giotto?

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 Giotto?

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 Giotto painting is authentic?

No. A signature or inscription cannot establish authorship by itself. Panel construction, ground, pigments, gilding, paint technique, condition, provenance, and comparison with securely attributed works must all be considered.

Can an unsigned Giotto painting still be authentic?

Yes. Attribution of Giotto’s paintings does not depend on the presence of a signature. Technical, stylistic, material, and documentary evidence is considerably more important.

What documents help authenticate a Giotto painting?

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

Can a Giotto painting be authenticated from photographs?

Yes. High-quality photography allows us to examine composition, paint surface, gilding, panel construction, condition, inscriptions, 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 Giotto?

No. Research, provenance investigation, comparative analysis, and technical examination may answer many initial questions. In difficult cases, examination of the wood support, ground, pigments, gilding, underdrawing, and imaging evidence can help determine whether the materials and construction are compatible with an early-fourteenth-century painting; accepted Giotto-related panels include egg tempera on poplar.

What if my Giotto has no provenance?

Incomplete provenance does not automatically exclude a painting from consideration. When ownership history is missing, authentication relies more heavily on technical examination, comparative research, materials, imaging, and, where appropriate, scientific testing.

Do you issue Certificates of Authenticity for Giotto 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 Giotto painting worth?

We will appraise your painting and determine its value. Attribution is critical, followed by subject, dimensions, condition, provenance, quality, historical importance, and whether the work can be connected securely with Giotto rather than his workshop or a follower.

SELLING

Can you sell my Giotto 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 Giotto?

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 Giotto?

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 Giotto?

Yes. Authentication, provenance, valuation, condition, 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 Giotto before selling it?

Usually not. A painting potentially dating from the early fourteenth century requires exceptionally cautious conservation decisions. We generally recommend selling the painting in its present condition unless there is a compelling conservation reason to intervene.

How long does it take to sell a Giotto?

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

BUYING & ADVISORY

Should I buy a Giotto?

If you appreciate Giotto’s paintings, certainly. If your primary objective is investment, we can evaluate the proposed attribution, condition, provenance, price, and alternative opportunities.

Can you review a Giotto 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 Giotto?

Three fundamental questions should always be answered: Is it authentic? What is its condition? Is the price reasonable? Particular attention should be paid to whether the painting is considered autograph, Giotto and workshop, workshop of Giotto, or the work of a follower, because these classifications are materially different.

How can I avoid buying a fake Giotto?

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 later, forged, or misattributed 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 GIOTTO 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 Giotto, 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.