COULD YOUR ARTWORK BE BY MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI?

Previously unknown works by important artists continue to emerge from private collections, estates, inheritances, and long-held family possessions. While authentic works by Michelangelo Buonarroti 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 sculpture, drawing, or painting may be by Michelangelo Buonarroti, obtaining an independent professional opinion is the appropriate first step. Michelangelo worked principally across sculpture, drawing, painting, and architecture, with drawing central to his creative process in all of these fields.

We have specialized in the authentication of works attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti 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 Michelangelo Buonarroti?

From a single photograph of ordinary quality, we can often determine whether a work appears consistent with Michelangelo’s work or whether it clearly does not. Attribution can be complicated by workshop material, copies, works made after his designs, and drawings historically attributed to Michelangelo that subsequent scholarship has reassigned.

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 Michelangelo Buonarroti today?

Yes. Michelangelo produced a substantial body of drawings and designs in addition to sculpture and painting, and many surviving sheets were working studies rather than finished presentation works. Previously undocumented material can therefore merit serious investigation when its technique, materials, history, and relationship to documented works are compelling.

Do I need to get my Michelangelo Buonarroti 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 Michelangelo Buonarroti authenticated?

Not for you. For drawings or paintings, send photographs of the front and reverse, close-ups of the surface, paper or support, inscriptions, and other important details. For sculpture, send photographs from several angles, including the base, surface, tool marks, inscriptions, repairs, and construction details. The investigation itself is our responsibility.

How long does it take to authenticate a Michelangelo Buonarroti?

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 Michelangelo Buonarroti?

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 Michelangelo Buonarroti sculpture is authentic?

No. Michelangelo’s Vatican Pietà is documented as the only work he signed, so the absence or presence of a name is not an adequate basis for attribution. Material, carving technique, dimensions, surface, provenance, date, and relationship to securely documented works are substantially more important.

Can an unsigned Michelangelo Buonarroti sculpture still be authentic?

Yes. Since the Vatican Pietà is the only work Michelangelo is known to have signed, an unsigned sculpture is not inherently inconsistent with his practice. Its marble or other material, carving, tool marks, form, provenance, date, and historical context must be evaluated together.

What documents help authenticate a Michelangelo Buonarroti artwork?

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

Can a Michelangelo Buonarroti drawing or sculpture be authenticated from photographs?

Yes. High-quality photography is an extremely useful authentication tool and allows us to study drawing technique, paper, inscriptions, marble surfaces, carving, tool marks, condition, 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 Michelangelo Buonarroti?

No. Many works can be assessed through provenance research, comparative analysis, connoisseurship, and technical examination. Scientific testing is generally reserved for more difficult cases when questions remain concerning marble or stone, paper, chalk, ink, pigments, binding media, grounds, or other materials.

What if my Michelangelo Buonarroti has no provenance?

Incomplete provenance is common with works that have passed through collections for centuries. When provenance is incomplete, authentication relies more heavily on technical examination, comparative research, photography, inscriptions, materials, and, where appropriate, scientific testing.

Do you issue Certificates of Authenticity for Michelangelo Buonarroti 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 Michelangelo Buonarroti artwork worth?

We will appraise your work and determine its value. Attribution, medium, date, subject, dimensions, condition, provenance, rarity, scholarly importance, and current market demand are critical factors, and sculpture, drawings, and paintings must be valued within their respective markets.

SELLING

Can you sell my Michelangelo Buonarroti 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 Michelangelo Buonarroti?

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 Michelangelo Buonarroti?

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 Michelangelo Buonarroti?

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 Michelangelo Buonarroti before selling it?

Usually not. Buyers often have their own preferences regarding conservation and restoration. We generally recommend selling the work in its present condition unless there is a compelling reason to do otherwise.

How long does it take to sell a Michelangelo Buonarroti?

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 Michelangelo Buonarroti?

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

Can you review a Michelangelo Buonarroti 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 Michelangelo Buonarroti?

Three fundamental questions should always be answered: Is it authentic? What is its condition? Is the price reasonable? For drawings, paper, chalk or ink, inscriptions, provenance, and distinctions between autograph work, workshop material, copies, and drawings after Michelangelo are especially important; museum collections document examples where historical attributions have been reconsidered.

How can I avoid buying a fake Michelangelo Buonarroti?

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 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 MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI 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 Michelangelo Buonarroti, 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.