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In the art world, a work's authenticity is determined not just by its appearance, but by its history. Provenance is the documented history of a painting's ownership, from the artist's studio to the present day. Impeccable provenance is often a more compelling argument for authenticity than any technical examination.
In the art world, a work's authenticity is determined not just by its appearance, but by its history. Provenance is the documented history of a painting's ownership, from the artist's studio to the present day. Impeccable provenance is often a more compelling argument for authenticity than any technical examination.
An ideal history of origin includes numerous documents that trace the painting's journey through time. The more complete and transparent this history, the higher the value and the lower the risk that you are looking at a fake painting. A lack of provenance, on the other hand, is always a warning sign for a collector.
| Characteristic | Natural Craquelure | Artificial Craquelure |
| Crack Edges | Smoothed, rounded | Sharp, jagged |
| Network Pattern | Uneven, chaotic | Uniform, ordered |
| Depth | Penetrates through several layers of paint | Often superficial, only in the top layer of varnish |
| Distribution | Uneven across the entire canvas | Can be suspiciously uniform |
One of the most telling signs of a painting's age is craquelure—a network of fine cracks in the paint layer. Over time, paints and varnish dry out, lose their elasticity, and crack due to changes in temperature and humidity. This process takes decades, sometimes centuries, so the nature of the cracks can reveal a lot about the canvas's age.
Genuine, natural craquelure has smooth, rounded edges and an uneven, web-like pattern. Forgers have learned to create artificial cracks, but these often give them away. Artificial craquelure typically has sharper, more defined edges and a uniform, repetitive structure.
Verifying a painting's authenticity often involves a detailed examination of these cracks. It is important to understand the difference between natural aging and artificial methods.
Equally important information about a painting's authenticity and age can be found on its reverse side. The condition of the canvas, stretcher, and fasteners serves as a kind of passport for the artwork. An old canvas darkens over time, becomes brittle, and acquires a characteristic dusty smell.
A new, artificially aged canvas can be identified by its uniform color (it is often tinted with tea or coffee) and the absence of natural signs of time. Pay attention to the nails: antique paintings were attached to the stretcher with hand-forged nails, whereas modern staples or factory-made nails immediately indicate a later intervention.
An ultraviolet lamp is one of the key tools in an expert's arsenal. Under UV light, materials of different ages and chemical compositions glow (fluoresce) differently. This allows for the detection of hidden details that are not visible in normal light, such as later alterations or a forged signature.
Old varnishes and paints made from natural resins usually glow with a dull greenish or yellowish light. Modern synthetic materials fluoresce differently or not at all. If a signature was added to an old painting much later, it will appear as a dark spot against the glowing background of the old varnish.
Thus, checking a signature under ultraviolet light helps determine whether it was applied at the same time as the main paint layer. Any restoration work, additions, or corrections also become clearly visible under a UV lamp, making this method indispensable for the initial examination of paintings.
