What is the first thing to look at?
Look at the painting itself before any paper. Materials, ground, brushwork and the way the paint has aged should all fit the period and the artist the work is attributed to. A work that looks right on paper but wrong in the hand deserves caution.
The signature matters, but it is the easiest part to copy. Compare it with signatures on securely documented works from the same years, since many artists changed how they signed over a career. A signature that sits on top of cracked paint, or looks fresher than the surface around it, is a reason to ask more questions.
Why does ownership history matter so much?
Provenance is the record of who has owned a work since it left the artist. A strong history runs without long gaps and is supported by papers such as gallery invoices, letters, exhibition labels or family records. Each link should be something you can see, not only something you are told.
Gaps are common and are not proof of a problem, but they should be explained. Ask who owned the work, how it passed from one owner to the next, and what written evidence survives for each step.
- Original bills of sale or gallery receipts
- Letters from or to the artist
- Labels and stamps on the stretcher or backing
- Photographs of the work in a known collection
How do books and exhibitions help?
If a painting has been reproduced in a monograph or catalogue, or shown in a recorded exhibition, that is independent evidence that the work existed in that form at that date. Check that the dimensions, medium and image in the publication match the painting in front of you.
Treat literature as support rather than proof. A reproduction confirms that a work was accepted at the time; it does not by itself settle questions raised later.
What should a condition report tell you?
A condition report describes the physical state of the work: tears, losses, retouching, relining, flaking and any past restoration. It should be written after close inspection, ideally under ultraviolet light, which can reveal later paint.
Condition affects value and can affect authenticity questions too. Heavy overpainting can hide or change what the artist actually made, so ask how much of the surface is original.
What can a certificate of authenticity not do?
A certificate is only as reliable as the person who signed it and the evidence behind it. Ask who issued it, what their standing is for this artist, and what they examined. A certificate with no supporting history or reasoning adds little.
Certificates can also be forged or attached to a different work. Make sure the certificate describes this painting precisely, with a photograph, dimensions and medium.
When should you ask a specialist?
Ask for independent advice when the price is significant, when the history has gaps, when a signature or surface looks unusual, or when the artist is one whose market is known for copies. A conservator can examine materials and a recognised scholar of the artist can assess the work against the known body of work.
At Arts Bespoke, every work we sell carries a written ownership history, a condition report and a certificate under one house reference number, so a buyer can check each piece of evidence against the others. We deal in modern and contemporary Indian art and do not deal in antiquities. To discuss a work, write to clientadvisory@artsbespoke.com or use Get in touch. This guide is general information and not legal or professional advice.
Written by the house and last reviewed on 21 October 2026. General information only: for a decision about a particular work, write to the house or take professional advice.
ExpertiseQuestionsWorks availableSell a workRavi Varma oleographs
