COULD YOUR PAINTING BE BY MATTHIAS GRÜNEWALD?

Previously unknown works by important artists continue to emerge from private collections, estates, inheritances, and long-held family possessions. While authentic paintings by Matthias Grünewald are exceptionally rare, every work deserves to be evaluated on its own merits rather than dismissed simply because it is unfamiliar or undocumented. Only a small surviving body of paintings and drawings is currently attributed to him.

If you believe your painting may be by Matthias Grünewald, obtaining an independent professional opinion is the appropriate first step.

We have specialized in the authentication of works attributed to Matthias Grünewald 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 Matthias Grünewald?

From a single photograph of ordinary quality, we can often determine whether a painting appears consistent with Grünewald’s work or whether it clearly does not. Because so few paintings are attributed to him, comparisons with securely attributed works, materials, panel construction, technique, and technical imaging can be 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 Matthias Grünewald today?

Yes. Grünewald’s surviving oeuvre is extremely small, and attribution scholarship continues to depend on close comparison, provenance research, and technical examination. An unfamiliar painting should therefore be evaluated on its evidence rather than dismissed simply because it is unrecorded.

Do I need to get my Matthias Grünewald 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 Matthias Grünewald authenticated?

Not for you. Simply send us photographs of the front and reverse, close-up photographs of important details, the support and edges where visible, 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 Matthias Grünewald?

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 Matthias Grünewald?

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 Matthias Grünewald painting is authentic?

No. A signature or inscription cannot establish authorship by itself. It must be considered together with the painting’s materials, support, technique, provenance, condition, and relationship to securely attributed works.

Can an unsigned Matthias Grünewald painting still be authentic?

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

What documents help authenticate a Matthias Grünewald 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 Matthias Grünewald painting be authenticated from photographs?

Yes. High-quality photography is an extremely useful authentication tool and allows us to study composition, paint application, 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 Matthias Grünewald?

No. Many paintings can first be assessed through research, provenance investigation, comparative analysis, and technical examination. In difficult cases, infrared imaging, X-radiography, pigment analysis, and dendrochronological examination of wooden panels may provide important additional evidence.

What if my Matthias Grünewald has no provenance?

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

Do you issue Certificates of Authenticity for Matthias Grünewald 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 Matthias Grünewald painting worth?

We will appraise your painting and determine its value. Attribution, subject, period, dimensions, condition, provenance, quality, rarity, and current market demand can all materially affect value.

SELLING

Can you sell my Matthias Grünewald 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 Matthias Grünewald?

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 Matthias Grünewald?

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 Matthias Grünewald?

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 Matthias Grünewald before selling it?

Usually not. Early sixteenth-century panel paintings can be particularly sensitive to intervention, and previous restoration may materially affect their appearance and condition. 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 Matthias Grünewald?

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 Matthias Grünewald?

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

Can you review a Matthias Grünewald 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 Matthias Grünewald?

Three fundamental questions should always be answered: Is it authentic? What is its condition? Is the price reasonable? Given the exceptionally small accepted oeuvre, attribution, provenance, materials, panel construction, and comparison with securely documented paintings require especially careful examination.

How can I avoid buying a fake Matthias Grünewald?

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 imitation, 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 MATTHIAS GRÜNEWALD 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 Matthias Grünewald, 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.