How do art dealers verify the pedigree of older works of art?

Answer 1

Art dealers and collectors rely on an artwork's provenance when determining its authenticity and pedigree. It is very important for art dealers, museum curators, collectors, and even artists themselves, to maintain the work's provenance because the authenticity of any given artwork can be called into question at any time. Provenance is basically the history of ownership for a particular piece. It can be verified by the signature on a work, receipts of sale, documentation of gallery and museum showings of a work, and can also be in the form of a certificate of authenticity signed by an expert of the particular artist's work. It is a very muddy business because some dealers have documentation and provenance for fakes, and sometimes they don't even know! So when purchasing a piece of art, especially an older piece, it is absolutely essential to verify that the documentation that accompanies a work of art is legitimate.