How to Spot a Real Painting between Copies

Take all necessary steps to authenticate art.

High-priced art is traded around the globe on a daily basis -- oftentimes for exorbitant amounts of money -- so spotting the difference between a real and a fake painting can mean millions of dollars. Examining highly valued works of art requires the assistance of an expert. Even if you are just perusing a local art warehouse, having the wherewithal to spot a real painting between copies can land you in possession of a rare and original work of art.

Instructions

1. Examine the texture and weight of the painting. Real paintings are often created on canvas or other weighted material suited for absorbing and maintaining paint. Real paintings may also feel rough and beveled on the surface -- the natural feel of dried oil or acrylic paint. Fake paintings, on the other hand, are often reproduced on insubstantial paper and have a thin, photocopy-like texture.

2. Take the painting to a professional art authenticator or curator at a museum or university. Ask the authenticator to perform a thread count-irregularity test; such tests, albeit meticulous, are most advantageous for spotting a forgery that requires an expert to examine a canvas for irregularities in thread weaving to spot aged canvases.

3. Ask the authenticator about advanced testing, such as optical microscopy, X-ray radiography or Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Optical microscopy, for example, requires the authenticator to remove a microscopic shaving of paint using a surgical tool; the authenticator will place the shaving under an optical microscope to test it and see if, among other things, the painting includes premixed or layered paints. The results of the test can determine if the painting is an original -- using paints with premodern elements, for example -- or a forgery.

Tips & Warnings

• Inquire with curators about costs associated with painting authentication, as the equipment used to perform the work can be exceedingly expensive.

References

• Science Direct: Painting Authentication
• Forbes: How to Spot a Fake
• Art Institute of Chicago: So You Want to Buy a Painting