What should I do before I sell a painting?
Start by confirming what you hold. Note the artist, the title, the medium, the size, the year if known, and any signature, inscription or label on the front and back. Photograph the work in daylight, front and back, and photograph any damage as it is, without cleaning or retouching it.
Then gather the paperwork. A work with a clear history is easier to place and easier for a buyer to trust. Do not restore, reframe or clean the painting before a specialist has seen it, because well meant repairs can lower its value. These are the papers worth looking for:
- Original invoices or receipts
- Certificates or letters from the artist or a gallery
- Exhibition catalogues or publications that show the work
- Earlier valuations or insurance schedules
- Photographs of the work in its past settings
How do I find out what my painting is worth?
Ask for a written valuation from a specialist who knows the artist's period and medium. A written valuation states the work, the basis of the figure and the purpose, such as sale, insurance or an estate. Those purposes can give different numbers, so say which one you need.
Be cautious of a price quoted from a photograph alone. Condition, authenticity and provenance all move value, and they are judged properly only with the work in front of the specialist. Public auction results for comparable works can inform a view, but they are a guide and not a promise of what your painting will fetch.
What are my options for selling in Mumbai?
There are three usual routes. Each has a different cost structure, speed and level of privacy.
A private sale is discreet and can be arranged around the work and your timing. An auction gives public exposure on a fixed date, but the result is published and the outcome depends on the room on the day. A direct sale saves intermediary costs, but leaves you to handle pricing, payment and paperwork alone. Our guide to auction or private sale sets out the difference in more detail.
- Private sale through a dealer, who finds a buyer and agrees the price with you
- Auction, where the work is offered publicly on a set date
- Direct sale to a collector you already know, which you manage yourself
What will selling cost, and how long will it take?
Ask every dealer or auction house for their terms in writing before you agree to anything. Look for the seller's commission, any charges for photography, cataloguing, insurance or transport, and when you will be paid after the buyer has paid.
Timing depends on the work. A well documented painting by a sought after artist may find a buyer quickly. A work that needs research, conservation or authentication takes longer. Anyone who promises a date and a price before they have seen the work is guessing.
How does Arts Bespoke handle the sale of a painting?
Arts Bespoke is a Mumbai art house dealing privately in modern and contemporary Indian art. The opening assessment of your work is not chargeable, and written valuations are available when you need one.
Works we offer carry a printed price. There is no buyer's premium and no deposit. We do not deal in antiquities, so if your piece is old enough to raise that question, we will say so plainly at the start. To begin, send photographs and any papers to clientadvisory@artsbespoke.com or use Get in touch.
Are there legal or tax points I should check?
Possibly. Ownership must be clear, and the seller must be entitled to sell. Sale proceeds can carry tax consequences, and the treatment depends on your circumstances. Works of great age may fall under separate rules on registration and transfer.
We do not give legal or tax advice. Please confirm these points with your own adviser before you sell.
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.
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