Each tangible work of art comes with an authenticity certificate of the fine art painting.
Certificate of Authenticity
This essential document accompanies artworks and certifies that the painting is an authentic creation by the artist who signed it. It would be useful in legal cases like reselling the artwork, usually requested by a dealer, for insurance, or in the evaluation of an estate. It is not a transfer of copyright, it is only a proof of genuineness and originality.
Authenticity Data
- Artwork information;
- Artist name,
- Title, possibly with series or polyptych reference,
- Dimensions: approximate, full, including mount of frame size if applicable,
- Media: the main materials used in the artwork, or edition,
- Creation year or a date range, approximate,
- Creation place;
- An additional signature that could be different than the seal on the front of the painting, hand-signed by me and stamped;
- Display recommendations.
On many of my paintings, this information is found on the back. Artwork information is also found in the artwork's Bill of Sale.
By California law, in the State where I live, Certificates of Authenticity are required to be included with sales of fine art multiples in or out of the state.
Catalogue Raisonné
I am working on my oeuvre, a comprehensive annotated list of my body of work, where I do my best to note the following:
- Title variations;
- Full description of the work;
- Signatures, inscriptions, seals, and monograms;
- Reference code (catalog number);
- Dimensions in millimeters and inches;
- Dates I worked on the piece;
- Main medium with all additional media forms used, sometimes with pigment codes;
- Location, condition, and history of ownership (provenance);
- Reproductions and publication;
- Exhibitions, mentions, critical assessments, and remarks.
In most cases, much of this information will be provided on my site with the low resolution watermarked picture.