COULD YOUR ARTWORK BE BY DIEGO RIVERA?

Previously unknown works by important artists continue to emerge from private collections, estates, inheritances, and long-held family possessions. While authentic works by Diego Rivera may be 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, drawing, watercolor, print, or mural study may be by Diego Rivera, obtaining an independent professional opinion is the appropriate first step. Rivera worked extensively in mural painting, easel painting, drawing, watercolor, and printmaking, including lithography.

We have specialized in the authentication of works attributed to Diego Rivera 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 Diego Rivera?

From a single photograph of ordinary quality, we can often determine whether a work appears consistent with Rivera’s work or whether it clearly does not. His career encompassed murals, easel paintings, watercolors, drawings, and prints, so the expected materials and technique vary substantially according to the medium and proposed date.

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 Diego Rivera today?

Yes. Rivera was a prolific artist who worked internationally and produced murals, easel paintings, watercolors, drawings, and prints, so previously undocumented works can still emerge from private collections, estates, and long-held family possessions.

Do I need to get my Diego Rivera 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 Diego Rivera authenticated?

Not for you. Simply send us photographs of the front and reverse, close-up photographs of the surface, signature, inscriptions, labels or other markings, the dimensions, and anything you know about the work’s history. The investigation itself is our responsibility.

How long does it take to authenticate a Diego Rivera?

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 Diego Rivera?

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 Diego Rivera painting is authentic?

No. A signature must be considered together with the work’s materials, technique, support, surface, provenance, proposed date, and other physical and documentary evidence.

Can an unsigned Diego Rivera painting still be authentic?

Yes. The absence of a signature does not by itself make a painting attributed to Rivera inauthentic. Authentication must rest on the complete physical, technical, stylistic, and documentary evidence.

What documents help authenticate a Diego Rivera painting, drawing, watercolor, or print?

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

Can a Diego Rivera painting, drawing, watercolor, or print be authenticated from photographs?

Yes. High-quality photography is an extremely useful authentication tool and allows us to study paint application, paper, surface texture, printing characteristics, signatures, inscriptions, and other important features 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 Diego Rivera?

No. Many works can be authenticated through research, provenance investigation, analysis, and technical examination. Scientific testing is generally reserved for more difficult cases when questions remain concerning the age or composition of pigments, binders, canvas, panels, paper, inks, or other materials.

What if my Diego Rivera has no provenance?

Incomplete provenance is common. When provenance is incomplete, authentication relies more heavily on research, technical examination, photography, and, where appropriate, scientific testing.

Do you issue Certificates of Authenticity for Diego Rivera 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 Diego Rivera painting, drawing, watercolor, or print worth?

We will appraise your work and determine its value. Medium, date, subject, dimensions, condition, provenance, rarity, and market demand are among the principal factors that may affect value; for prints, edition, impression, and printing information can also be important.

SELLING

Can you sell my Diego Rivera 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 Diego Rivera?

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 Diego Rivera?

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 Diego Rivera?

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 Diego Rivera 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 Diego Rivera?

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 Diego Rivera?

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

Can you review a Diego Rivera 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 Diego Rivera?

Three fundamental questions should always be answered: Is it authentic? What is its condition? Is the price reasonable? Medium, date, provenance, materials, and physical characteristics should also correspond to the proposed attribution; for lithographs, paper, impression, printer, publisher, and edition information can be particularly important. Rivera produced documented lithographs in collaboration with printer George C. Miller in New York in 1932.

How can I avoid buying a fake Diego Rivera?

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 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 DIEGO RIVERA 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 Diego Rivera, 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.