COULD YOUR PAINTING BE BY HUGO VAN DER GOES?

Previously unknown works by important artists continue to emerge from private collections, estates, inheritances, and long-held family possessions. While authentic paintings by Hugo van der Goes 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 Hugo van der Goes, obtaining an independent professional opinion is the appropriate first step.

We have specialized in the authentication of works attributed to Hugo van der Goes 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 Hugo van der Goes?

From a single photograph of ordinary quality, we can often determine whether a painting appears consistent with Van der Goes’s work or whether it clearly does not. Because later copies, workshop-related paintings, and compositions derived from lost originals are known, attribution may require close analysis of technique, materials, underdrawing, and construction.

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 Hugo van der Goes today?

Yes. Works associated with Van der Goes can survive in altered, copied, or previously misunderstood forms, and attribution can change as technical and art-historical evidence is reassessed. Paintings after lost compositions by Van der Goes demonstrate how his designs continued to circulate beyond his lifetime.

Do I need to get my Hugo van der Goes 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 Hugo van der Goes authenticated?

Not for you. Simply send us photographs of the front and reverse, close-up photographs of important details, the panel or other support, dimensions, inscriptions or labels, and anything you know about the painting’s history. The investigation itself is our responsibility.

How long does it take to authenticate a Hugo van der Goes?

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 Hugo van der Goes?

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 Hugo van der Goes painting is authentic?

No. A signature or inscription cannot establish authorship on its own. Technique, panel construction, materials, underdrawing, provenance, condition, and comparison with securely attributed paintings must all be considered.

Can an unsigned Hugo van der Goes painting still be authentic?

Yes. The absence of a signature does not by itself make a Van der Goes painting inauthentic. Attribution rests on the totality of stylistic, technical, material, and documentary evidence.

What documents help authenticate a Hugo van der Goes painting?

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

Can a Hugo van der Goes painting be authenticated from photographs?

Yes. High-quality photography is an extremely useful authentication tool and allows us to study composition, paint handling, surface characteristics, condition, inscriptions, panel structure, and other visible details 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 Hugo van der Goes?

No. Many paintings can first be assessed through research, provenance investigation, comparative analysis, and technical examination. In difficult cases, dendrochronology, infrared imaging, X-radiography, pigment analysis, or examination of the ground and underdrawing may provide important evidence.

What if my Hugo van der Goes has no provenance?

Incomplete provenance is not automatically disqualifying. When provenance is limited, greater weight may be placed on panel construction, materials, underdrawing, painting technique, technical imaging, and comparison with securely attributed works.

Do you issue Certificates of Authenticity for Hugo van der Goes 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 Hugo van der Goes painting worth?

We will appraise your painting and determine its value. Attribution, degree of workshop or later involvement, subject, dimensions, condition, provenance, rarity, quality, and current market demand can all materially affect value.

SELLING

Can you sell my Hugo van der Goes 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 Hugo van der Goes?

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 Hugo van der Goes?

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 Hugo van der Goes?

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 Hugo van der Goes before selling it?

Usually not. Early Netherlandish panel paintings can be especially sensitive to intervention, and previous restoration can materially affect their appearance and condition. We generally recommend selling the painting in its present state unless there is a compelling conservation reason to intervene.

How long does it take to sell a Hugo van der Goes?

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 Hugo van der Goes?

If you appreciate Van der Goes’s work, certainly. If your primary objective is investment, we can evaluate the proposed acquisition, attribution, condition, provenance, and alternative opportunities.

Can you review a Hugo van der Goes 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 Hugo van der Goes?

Three fundamental questions should always be answered: Is it authentic? What is its condition? Is the price reasonable? For Van der Goes, it is also essential to distinguish an autograph painting from a workshop-related work, later copy, or composition derived from a lost original.

How can I avoid buying a fake Hugo van der Goes?

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 forgery, later copy, 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 HUGO VAN DER GOES 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 Hugo van der Goes, 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.