How to Determine if a Painting Is an Original or Reproduction

If you are buying a painting for your own enjoyment, buy what you like and what feels reasonable. But buying a work of art as an investment is very different. It is not so much the art as who painted it, and the provenance: the proof of the artist's actual connection to the piece.

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Research the piece, know the artist's work, look at many of his pieces, compare signatures, get close-ups of the signature. Increasing your knowledge is critical to examining the piece and knowing what to look for when judging authenticity.
If you ask to see the back of a painting, the staff may show you. Examine the feel and look of old art works. Study the depth and number of layers of paint needed to achieve the color desired by the artist.^{[1]XTrustworthy SourceScience DirectOnline archive of peer-reviewed research on scientific, technical and medical topicsGo to source}
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Look at the front and back of the piece.
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- Examine the patina of the piece itself: dirt and dust of the ages, texture, the brightness of colors, or lack thereof.
- Study the canvas, do a thread count, modern or old?
- Is there some patina on the back surface of the canvas?
- Look for anachronisms. If the canvas is stapled on the back of a 1800's piece of art, something is wrong.
Determine how the frame is put together, considering what kind of nails and hanger are used.^{[3]XTrustworthy SourceScience DirectOnline archive of peer-reviewed research on scientific, technical and medical topicsGo to source}
Painted copies sometimes will have hairs from the cheap paint brush still in the paint on the canvas.^{[4]XResearch source}
When you do get your hands on the painting, smell it. It takes oil a while to dry and years to completely lose the smell of oil.^{[5]XResearch source}
Balance everything, many fakes for example have no depth of paint, layers, it's easy to copy a piece electronically but a photo copier cannot get the layers of paint a real piece has.^{[6]XResearch source}
A fake painted copy needs everything else to match, frame wise, and a patina is hard to reproduce.
If it is something you are in love with, you need a third party to independently review it, someone who is not in love. How do you know if the appraiser is reliable? He or she should have a certificate from one or more of the professional associations of art appraisers, have a history of work with the particular artist or medium or period, and preferably not be a dealer or broker of art himself. One example is Bernard Ewell, who is an expert in Salvador Dali, whose prints are often copied. Research the market history of the artist. What have other works of this artist sold for at other auction houses, this size, time frame, and same medium?^{[7]XResearch source}
Note that some dealers, perhaps including those on cruise ships, may attempt to confuse the buyer with sizes and periods, even mediums to sell a lesser piece at inflated prices. Look for signature and number. For prints they must be signed, and numbered.Signed in stone is of little interest, because unlimited copies can be drawn.^{[8]XResearch source}
Many pieces will have gallery stickers or information written on the back. Research that gallery to learn whether it is. Look for signs of wear. There should be some signs of wear, on the frame, even the canvas sometimes. Wooden edges not quite as sharp after 50, 100 years, and drier. Research the artist for reputation. Know that some artists are known to have signed blank paper, which later have prints drawn on/from them, which means the artist did not even supervise the pulls. These would be of significantly lesser value. Salvador Dali was know to have done this,
Beware of a scam where the print is not numbered but another document is, which is meaningless, as any signed in stone can be used in place of the real item.^{[9]XResearch source}

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Where are signatures located on very old oil paintings?
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Usually on the bottom right corner, although this can vary with every painter.
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Where can I find someone in Durant, OK, USA to appraise artwork?
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You may have to contact someone in OKC. A frame shop like Pirates Alley can refer an appraiser.
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How can I determine who painted the painting?
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Look at the signature. If there is no signature, you may have to ask an art expert.
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Shopping at an Art Gallery, Yard sale,Antique store, Secondhand store,anywhere, any time.
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Kind of like having your own Road Show Expert in your pocket.
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