COULD YOUR PAINTING BE BY HANS MEMLING?

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

We have specialized in the authentication of works attributed to Hans Memling 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, including the front, reverse, panel edges, frame, inscriptions and labels, 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 Hans Memling?

From a single photograph of ordinary quality, we can often determine whether a painting appears consistent with Memling’s work or clearly does not. A definitive opinion may require closer examination because workshop production, later copies, restorations, and works by related Early Netherlandish painters can present attribution questions.

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 Hans Memling today?

Yes. Fifteenth-century paintings can survive with incomplete or lost provenance, and works may remain for generations in private collections without modern scholarly examination.

Do I need to get my Hans Memling 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 Hans Memling authenticated?

Not for you. Send us clear photographs of the front and reverse, panel edges, frame, inscriptions, labels and other important details, together with the dimensions and anything you know about its history. The investigation itself is our responsibility.

How long does it take to authenticate a Hans Memling?

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 Hans Memling?

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 Hans Memling painting is authentic?

No. Some Memling paintings carry inscriptions or dates, but attribution depends on the painting as a whole, including technique, materials, panel construction, underdrawing, provenance, and comparison with securely accepted works. The St John Altarpiece of 1479, for example, is documented as bearing Memling’s name and date.

Can an unsigned Hans Memling painting still be authentic?

Yes. A signature is not required for a painting to be accepted as an authentic Memling. Many fifteenth-century panel paintings are evaluated primarily through their materials, technique, construction, provenance, and relationship to securely attributed works.

What documents help authenticate a Hans Memling painting?

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

Can a Hans Memling painting be authenticated from photographs?

Yes. High-quality photography is an extremely useful authentication tool and allows us to study composition, paint surface, condition, inscriptions, panel construction, labels, and other 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 Hans Memling?

No. Many paintings can be evaluated through research, provenance investigation, comparative analysis, and technical examination. When necessary, methods such as infrared imaging, dendrochronology, and analysis of pigments, grounds, or other materials can provide important additional evidence.

What if my Hans Memling has no provenance?

Incomplete provenance is common with paintings of this age. When provenance is incomplete, authentication relies more heavily on examination of the panel, materials, painting technique, underdrawing, photographic and technical imaging, comparative research, and, where appropriate, scientific testing.

Do you issue Certificates of Authenticity for Hans Memling 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 Hans Memling painting worth?

We will appraise your painting and determine its value. Attribution, subject, quality, dimensions, condition, provenance, date, rarity, and current market demand are among the principal factors affecting the value of a Memling painting.

SELLING

Can you sell my Hans Memling 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 Hans Memling?

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 Hans Memling?

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 Hans Memling?

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 Hans Memling before selling it?

Usually not. Buyers often have their own preferences regarding conservation and restoration, particularly with historic panel paintings. We generally recommend selling the painting in its present condition unless there is a compelling conservation reason to do otherwise.

How long does it take to sell a Hans Memling?

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 Hans Memling?

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

Can you review a Hans Memling 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 Hans Memling?

Three fundamental questions should always be answered: Is it authentic? What is its condition? Is the price reasonable? For Memling, the distinction between an autograph painting, workshop participation, a follower, and a later copy can be particularly important.

How can I avoid buying a fake Hans Memling?

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, copied, 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 HANS MEMLING 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 Hans Memling, 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.