Scientific Lab Analysis of Art

21st century techniques used to authenticate drawings and paintings now available for collectors at reasonable costs.

Pierre A. Renoir
"Umbrellas"
1881-1886

The girl at the left is painted with hard edges.  The woman at the right is painted with soft feathery brush strokes, two completely different styles.

Scientific lab analysis of the paint shows that Renoir did use the same paint in both areas.  Thus the painting is original but unusual in the strange mixture of styles.  Previously experts believed it was a forgery or an overly restored work.  The clue is to know exactly what color paints Renoir used.  The best art experts have this list in their files.

Raphael
"Madonna of the Pinks"
1506

This painting was long thought to be a copy of a lost original.

When the painting was x-rayed by the lab the artist's original ink under the drawing was discovered. 

You can see Raphael made several changes to the upper sleeve and the bend in the arms as he painted.  This proves this is an original.  A person making a copy of an original would not change the painting as he worked. Notice the confidence in the drawing?  A forger would not be so flamboyant in his lines.  They would start and stop as they looked back at the original for reference.  A top art appraiser knows how to look.
Scientific lab analysis gives valuable information to the art historian and appraiser.  For instance, linen cloth was not used for painting much before the 16th century.  Wood panels were used.  Italian artists preferred Poplar, northern artists Oak, while German and Swiss artists liked Fir, Limewood and Pine.  The French were partial to Walnut and the English Oak and Yew.  This is why the modern appraiser recommends the wood from panels to be indentified and dated.  Appraisers who omit these two steps are just "guessing in the dark".  Only a full service appraisal firm, like Chicago Appraisers Association, can produce a beneficial collaboration, the scientist, historian and appraiser.  Appraisals of Old Master paintings without modern scientific data are near worthless.

Chicago Appraisers Association
847-446-8827

Please don't hesitate to call and discuss any work of art you feel would benefit from research in our scientific lab.  Today's collectors won't buy major art without documentation.  We can provide this for you.

Click to visit our page Collector's Guide to Scientific Lab Art Tests.
Click to visit our page Cutting Edge Painting Authentication.
Click to visit our page Laboratory Testing and Research.
Click to visit our page Art Appraisals in the Computer Age.
Click to visit our page Honesty Is So Rare.

 

Still have a few questions?
Phone us and we will be glad to
answer them for you.
(847) 446-8827





 
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