Your study begins with the autograph of the old master. Is it a significant master, is it attributed to a master, associated with a master's circle or school, or merely a disciple of a master.
In order to evaluate the artwork, it is necessary to contextualize it within the artist's whole body of work and determine its significance, whether it is a major piece, a study, or a work from their early years, among other possibilities.
Is the artwork featured in an exhibition catalog, a catalog raisonné, or mentioned in an art magazine?
Purchasing high-quality artwork created by a lesser-known artist is preferable than acquiring a subpar piece produced by a renowned master.
The inclusion of provenance enhances both the appeal and worth of an item.
The provenance of an artwork is a crucial factor in determining its value. The origin is crucial not just for the worth but also for the historical record that will verify the genuineness. The reputation of the owner who sells the artwork is a crucial factor in determining its worth. The Yves Saint-Laurent collection auction often yields results that are 10 times greater than the estimated values.
Artwork conservation
Frequently, ancient masterpieces suffer from poor conservation conditions.
Several artworks underwent various restoration processes.
Restorations can be expensive when they are carried out by inexperienced individuals attempting repairs.
Certain repairs might be straightforward, such as removing a varnish.
Certain restoration projects may be quite astonishing, such as the following anecdote involving a client.
A picture ascribed to Jan Bril was purchased by a prominent British auction company in New York. It was solely credited to.
Upon sending the painting to the restorer, the buyer discovered that an image of a horse had been included into the artwork. The horse's depiction lacked the same level of artistic precision as the other elements in the artwork. Upon conducting tests, the restorer made a significant discovery: behind the picture of the horse, there was a depiction of a couple reclining against the base of a tree. The initial topic of the picture created by Bril included naked individuals standing in front of a tree. However, due to religious regulations, it was required that the naked figures be concealed. The painting's worth saw a 1000% spike inside a single night. We express our gratitude to the British auction company.
I recommend buying in an old master picture that requires minimal repair, rather than one that has undergone extensive restoration.
Additionally, I recommend conducting internet research to determine the artist's level of productivity and the frequency with which their works are made available for sale.
The focal point of the picture
Additionally, take into account the aesthetic influence that the artwork will exert on your interior space. Does the theme of the picture bring pleasure to you or your family, considering that many old master paintings depict quite brutal subjects?
An illustrative depiction of a city, such as the Coliseum in Rome or the views of London Bridge Towers, could hold significant personal value for you.
Portraits of ancestors who may be your relatives or the relatives of individuals you know might hold sentimental significance.
Prices beginning at a really affordable level.
At prestigious auction houses, typically during day auctions, one may discover captivating artworks such as cityscapes, biblical depictions, still life compositions, and more.
Typically, these works are attributed to an artist, their disciple, or a school associated with the artist.
However, certain works, such as the aforementioned example of Paul Bril, can offer delightful surprises.
Major auction houses prioritize artworks with strong provenance and those created by renowned masters, as they do not provide time for pieces lacking these qualities.
Evidently, they disregard several artworks available in their auctions due to a lack of time for thorough investigation. © Gerard Van Weyenbergh
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