Authentication

Category: science

The process of verifying that an artwork was created by the attributed artist.

Authentication is a multi-step investigative process involving stylistic analysis, material forensics (analyzing pigment and canvas age), and historical provenance research. In the contemporary market, a "Certificate of Authenticity" (COA) signed by an established authority is the minimum standard for entry-level sales.

Common Examples

• We hired a forensic conservator to complete the authentication phase before listing the painting on the secondary market.
• Forgers often create "aging" on canvases to bypass authentication by mimicking the chemical breakdown of vintage paint binders.