What is an attribution?
An assessment of who was responsible for creating a specific work. Attributions are made with varying degrees of certainty based on a combination of style/technique, provenance, and scientific analysis.
What is the attribution “by”?
The seller or expert is staking their professional reputation that a work is by the hand of the named artist
What is “attributed to”?
The work contains enough elements (Provenance, age, materials, technique) that the work is by the named artist in whole or significant part, but there is not expert consensus or they are not 100% sure
What is “studio of”/“workshop of”?
Used when a work has enough elements to place its creation in the workshop of the artist, likely under their supervision, but did not create the work themself (e.g. a student of the artist)
What is “follower of”?
A work created that is in a style of an artist, but not necessarily a student or person who worked directly with the named artist. Think admirer or copy (but not forgery, no intent to trick)
What is “circle of”?
The work has been assessed as being of the same period and has elements of the style and technique, but was not produced by the artist or their workshop. Similar to “follower of” but the attribution is even more distant
What is “manner of”?
The style of the artist but at a later date
What is “after”?
An artwork that is a copy of a work by another artist
What is “school of”?
This is the jello attribution…like trying to nail jello to a wall. This attribution is saying that there is some broad, unifying aspects to a work that gives the work an association with a style, period or school…but it really has no association with the artist or school. Pure art market term with little academic basis
What is “catalogue raisonne”?
Note I could not figure out how to put the accent aigu on the “e”. A catalogue of works by an artist or group of artists usually produced by a committee made up of the estate of the artist(s), academics or experts. It means “reasoned catalogue” because it contains descriptions or aspects of the works it lists and functions as a listing of the known works with attributions that are accepted by the estate or leading scholars
What is “provenance”?
The documented ownership history of a work over time, basically how did this work end up here in front of you.
Are all attributions valid?
No, attributions are made by academics, art galleries and auction houses, with each having vested interests in making or denying an attribution to increase value of the work (making the attribution) or protecting the value of other works ( denying an attribution)
Why is provenance important?
Provenance is important because it speaks to both the authenticity and legal title of a work. Can the work be traced back to the artist and did it legitimately pass through owners (not looted, stolen or acquired through other dubious means)
Provenance red alerts.
Any work with a gap in provenance between 1933 and 1940’s Europe has the potential to be a looted work. Antiquities also raise the spectre of looting and illegal trade.
What is a “sleeper”?
A “sleeper” is a work that was previously misattributed, lost or unknown and through careful research is “awakened” and provided a correct attribution.
What are the considerations with a “sleeper”?
Provenance. A corrected attribution can vastly increase the value of a painting and can change the scholarship around an artist. Because of those outcomes, the provenance becomes important as previous owners will have sold or passed ownership of the work without correct knowledge (and compensation) for the work
What is the “Red List”?
A resource by the International Council of Museums to alert collectors to categories of cultural objects that have a significant potential to have been trafficked. It does not list specific works, only the categories and place of origin that have concerns
