Artguy Global LLC                      

TO BECOME TRULY IMMORTAL, A WORK OF ART MUST ESCAPE ALL HUMAN LIMITS:   

LOGIC AND COMMON SENSE WILL ONLY INTERFERE.

oNCE THESE BARRIERS ARE BROKEN, IT WILL ENTER THE REALM OF CHILDHOOD VISION AND DREAMS....                       

                                                                                          Giorgio de Chirico

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How to evaluate a work of art

Every client asks this question in some form.

The answer always begins with taste—your taste. Collecting what you like, what inspires and excites you, is always the place to start. There’s just no point in buying a work of art that does not stir a passion within…

When you’ve found a work that you love, there are a few elements that should be assessed before you collect. Evaluating these elements carefully, and understanding the importance of each to the piece under consideration, you will be able to make a sound and informed decision. Each of these elements comes into play whether you are considering a painting, drawing, print, sculpture, or antique. Depending on the piece, they will be weighted differently, but none should be overlooked.

AUTHENTICITY

It is essential to determine whether the piece under consideration was indeed done by the artist to whom it is ascribed. If it is not clear that a work of art was made by that artist, this would greatly affect its present and future value. To establish authenticity, you need to do some research. If you are buying a contemporary work directly from an artist, obviously you need look no further. If you are buying from a primary market dealer, one who represents the artist or artist’s estate, that dealer can assure authenticity based on the source from which a work came. A secondary market dealer or auction house should have an extensive history of handling a specific artist’s work and should provide information that resolves issues of authorship.

Be assured that it is not naïve to pose the question “How do I know it’s a Rembrandt?”  Asking this question will open up a dialog that will be extremely informative.

PROVENANCE

The provenance of a work is simply its history of ownership: from the Latin pro “from”; and venire “to come”—from whence it came.

Provenance establishes title to a work of art. A solid documentation of a work’s ownership can help to establish its authenticity. Having an extensive and clear provenance of a work and being able to support and validate it, is an important part of the acquisition process.

RARITY

The rarity of a work of art is determined by how many similar examples exist and, perhaps, more importantly, how frequently those works become available for purchase. If for example, an artist painted only six paintings of a particular landscape or still life, it would be considered rare; if four or five of those were in the permanent collections of museums, the one work not in a museum would be considered exceedingly rare.

In the case of multiples—etchings, engravings, prints, photographs, glass and cast sculpture—knowing the size of the original edition and how many currently survive will help judge rarity.

CONDITION

The condition of a work of art can greatly affect its value. Therefore, properly examining the condition of a work is essential. It is useful to think of a work of art as a physical object—and in that evaluating condition, you are assessing the health of that object.

Keep in mind that with some artists or types of work, it may be impossible to find a work in pristine condition. Knowing this will assure that you do not pass up a rare gem simply because you expected the piece to be in perfect condition.

VALUE

If you’ve taken the steps to evaluate the preceding factors, you’ve answered the questions that affect a work’s value. It may be possible to evaluate your work to other comparable pieces that have recently been sold—giving you a clear idea of valuation.

One note: With prices in the art market rising as they have been in recent years, the idea of “art as investment” is on the minds of many art enthusiasts. Any collector should be wary of alleged bargains and promises of future gain. The art market has shown decade after decade that art chosen solely on the basis of price could amass mediocrity, whereas collections formed with passion and intelligence contain truly stellar pieces which hold up over time both aesthetically and monetarily.

If you discover a work of art that you love, with qualities that ignite your imagination and stir your inner passion, by all means acquire it. Owning what you love, learning about its history and what inspired its creation is priceless!

Inspiring Collections Worldwide