Old paintings are one of the most frequently misidentified categories in the art world. Many pieces discovered in attics, basements, estate cleanouts, thrift stores, or inherited collections appear valuable—but determining true worth requires understanding medium, brushwork, materials, aging patterns, signatures, framing, subject matter, and red flags that reveal reproductions.
DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 540 provides a complete, non-destructive workflow for evaluating whether an old painting has real market value. This guide teaches you how to analyze surfaces under angled light, distinguish prints from originals, verify canvas aging, interpret signatures, recognize meaningful subject matter, identify provenance clues, and avoid common pitfalls that mislead beginners.
Inside this guide, you’ll learn how experts:
Identify the medium accurately (oil, acrylic, watercolor, tempera, print reproductions)
Evaluate brushwork, texture, layering, and palette-knife indicators
Inspect the back of a canvas or panel for age clues and authenticity
Determine whether a frame supports the painting’s claimed age or origin
Distinguish real signatures from printed, forged, or added-on signatures
Recognize valuable subject matter vs. commonly low-value decorative themes
Interpret gallery labels, auction stickers, exhibition tags, and provenance documents
Identify natural aging (crazing, patina, varnish yellowing) vs. staged distress
Spot prints, giclées, mass-produced décor, and textured reproductions
Assess rarity, originality, artist market strength, and condition impact
Apply a complete non-destructive workflow to evaluate any painting safely
Whether you're evaluating inherited artwork, exploring thrift-store finds, preparing for an estate sale, or researching a painting that might have hidden value, this guide provides the professional structure needed to separate decorative artwork from meaningful originals—and to know when authentication or appraisal is recommended.
Digital Download — PDF • 9 Pages • Instant Access
Old paintings are one of the most frequently misidentified categories in the art world. Many pieces discovered in attics, basements, estate cleanouts, thrift stores, or inherited collections appear valuable—but determining true worth requires understanding medium, brushwork, materials, aging patterns, signatures, framing, subject matter, and red flags that reveal reproductions.
DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 540 provides a complete, non-destructive workflow for evaluating whether an old painting has real market value. This guide teaches you how to analyze surfaces under angled light, distinguish prints from originals, verify canvas aging, interpret signatures, recognize meaningful subject matter, identify provenance clues, and avoid common pitfalls that mislead beginners.
Inside this guide, you’ll learn how experts:
Identify the medium accurately (oil, acrylic, watercolor, tempera, print reproductions)
Evaluate brushwork, texture, layering, and palette-knife indicators
Inspect the back of a canvas or panel for age clues and authenticity
Determine whether a frame supports the painting’s claimed age or origin
Distinguish real signatures from printed, forged, or added-on signatures
Recognize valuable subject matter vs. commonly low-value decorative themes
Interpret gallery labels, auction stickers, exhibition tags, and provenance documents
Identify natural aging (crazing, patina, varnish yellowing) vs. staged distress
Spot prints, giclées, mass-produced décor, and textured reproductions
Assess rarity, originality, artist market strength, and condition impact
Apply a complete non-destructive workflow to evaluate any painting safely
Whether you're evaluating inherited artwork, exploring thrift-store finds, preparing for an estate sale, or researching a painting that might have hidden value, this guide provides the professional structure needed to separate decorative artwork from meaningful originals—and to know when authentication or appraisal is recommended.
Digital Download — PDF • 9 Pages • Instant Access
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