How to Authenticate a French Painting

If you have inherited a French painting, bought a house where you have found a French painting in the attic, or acquired one otherwise, you may want to authenticate it. Authetication of a painting is imperative if you want to insure the painting or if you think in the future you may want to sell it. Some of the most famous artists came from France and French paintngs are often worth a great deal of money. There are many companies which offer an authentication service for a fee, but by following these steps you can authenticate the painting yourself.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• A French art dictionary which lists all French artists

1. Handle the painting extremely carefully. Old paintings can be extremely delicate.
2. Look to see if there is a signature on the painting. Most French artists signed their paintings but some didn't. Do not dismss a painting as not being by a cetain artist just because there is not a signature.
3. Look for clues not only in the painting itself but also in anything that came with the painting. Old valuable French paintings have often been known to have letters or receipts behind them which can give important clues to the authenticity of the painting.
4. Find out if a catalogue raisonné exists of the work by the French artist that you suspect that the painting is by.
5. If a catalogue raisonné does exist, try and purchase one or see if an art library can lend you one. You should then look through it carefully to see if your painting appears in it or if your painting resembles one in the catalogue raisonné.
6. Find out who has the "droit moral," to the work of the artist you suspect the painting is by. Most valuable French paintings are by artists who are deceased. It is normally a member of their family who inherits the "droit moral" under French law.
7. Carefully take the measurements of the painting.
8. Take a photo of the painting. Both the front of the painting and the back.
9. Send the photos of the painting, the measurements of the painting and any other information you have about the painting to the person who has the "droit moral," to the work of the particular French artist in question and ask them to issue you a certificate of authenticity.

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