Conducting Authentication and Attribution Inquiries and Provenance Investigations

Into the Paintings & Drawings believed to be by:

Jean Désiré Gustave Courbet

Gustave Courbet

(1819-1877)

FRENCH

 Gustave Courbet ranks high on our list as one of the most faked artists in the world and with the exceptional prices his works fetch at auction, that is not at all surprising.

 In the mid 19th century, the French history, genre, still life and landscape painter Jean Désiré Gustave Courbet, originally from Ornans in eastern France, soared to fame, receiving well deserved social acclaim for his fine and realistic works of art.

Today, as then, thousands of his works have found their way into both public and private collections internationally.

 Astonishingly, some commentators claim that it is estimated that there are over 28,000 paintings attributed to him across the world! But common sense prevailing, although he was regarded as a very prolific painter, such an excessive amount of product would be near impossible to achieve in any artists lifetime. So the greater majority of these paintings are regarded as fakes, or at least wrongful attributions produced by followers.

 Courbet was always regarded as something of a controversial artist though, painting pictures which often highlighted unpleasant topics, such as trapped and dying animals, social issues, class differences and the harshness of reality.

 Below is a typical 'Courbetesque' painting of a wild boar in a snowy landscape on the left, bearing the name of Gustave Courbet and one which falls into exactly that category and then, by comparison, a legitimate Courbet on the right. "Le renard dans le neige" sig Gustave Courbet - huile sur toile - 86 x 128 cm - painted in 1860.

 In recent years an ever growing number of paintings bearing the name Gustave Courbet have been placed in major auctions and as the values of works of art by him consistently climb ever higher, there is an ever greater need for confirmation of legitimacy. So it would follow, that any works of art that do surface from the mists of time will require both a comprehensive and thorough investigation of their backgrounds and their authenticity. With similar scrutiny made for confirmation that any previously given attribution is correct and that any description of a work of art seemingly by Gustave Courbet can truly be relied upon.

 With such very high values of his paintings prevailing in the art market and the demand, even for modest works, then attempts at imitation by forgery and at all different levels is an obvious but sad consequence and the simplest ploy adopted by those intending to deceive, is to add a signature or monogram to an otherwise anonymous work, apply a forged studio stamp, or a new and persuasive inscription or gallery label to a picture. Indeed, it need only to be one of a vaguely similar nature or style to that of the artist that is claiming to be by and there are many followers and many student of the arts emulators creating product that is similar. This is the most common form of criminal deception that we see.

Though there are undoubtedly other, dare I say it, quite 'talented' artists who deliberately forge works of art by others for gain.

Unfortunately, forgery sometimes applies to faked provenance, documentation and even COA's.

* * *

 We are international fine art consultants and investigators with additional bases in the Auckland Europe, specialising in conducting full investigations into the authenticity of works of art created by artists in all categories, from all regions and historical eras. Scrutinize and track provenance and have been confidentially serving and advising both private individuals and corporate clients from around the world for over 45 years.

 We can assist and advise you in all fine art related matters, particularly issues of authenticity and the attribution of any old or modern master works of art, including the works of Edgar Degas, his circle, studio, or followers, or any works of art that you are unsure about.

Some example works of art appear below as illustrations. Note: No inference is made nor is it intended as to the question of their legitimacy. Moreover they are an across the board representational view of the differing types of works that are and may be offered and advertised for sale at auction internationally.

Estimate GBP 40,000 - GBP 60,000
SOLD GBP £409,250.00

Gustave Courbet (French, 1819-1877)
Côte normande près de Trouville, voiliers vu de la grèvesigned indistinctly 'G. Courbet. oil on canvas

SOLD USD  $187,500.00

 Below is a self portrait by the Courbet held at the Musee d'Orsay in Paris and painted in about 1845–6. Next to it, a smaller version of ‘L’Homme à la Ceinture de Cuir (The Man with a Leather Belt ) held by the National Gallery in London, which was for many years was believed to be by Courbet himself as he was known to sometimes replicate his own works.  Recently however, experts revealed that a trade mark that appeared on the back of the mill board that the portrait was painted on, was not registered until 3 years after the Courbets death.

Fine Art Authentication

 The duration and the direction of any authenticity investigation or an attribution of a work of art will inevitably vary from project to project. But there are clear and very well defined professional formalities, responsibilities and areas of scrutiny that we can formally assist you with, including:

• Authentication: Authentification:   Conducting comprehensive investigations and in depth research into a work of art with a view to establishing a correct, complete and formally recognized certification. One absolutely upheld by the appropriate, legally acknowledged and internationally sanctioned authority, body or expert on that given artist. Directing detailed and complicated inquiries, with multilingual capability, including any international academic research and forensic applications that are required.
  

•  Attribution: Identifying and confirming the identity of a previously anonymous artist, studio or workshop from which a work of art most likely originated. Including the re-examination and investigation of a previous attribution which may be incorrect, or the scrutiny of an attribution that has been formally questioned or is currently doubted.
  

•  Confirmation:  Undertaking research and investigations into the legitimacy of the provenance, history and prior ownership of a work of art and establishing its accuracy and legitimacy.
  
  

•  Scrutiny: Examen minutieux:Identifying fake or faux works of art and forgeries, including any false supportive accompanying documentation and determining works of art which may be studio or later copies, or previously given incorrect attributions.
  
  

•  Prosecution: Poursuite: Investigating alleged art fraud and forgery and assisting and advising those who are currently , or may be considering litigating or prosecuting the fact. This includes colleagues who are legal professionals and individual private clients.
  
  

•  Attention: Conducting all fine art related due diligence and duty of care inquiries. Including safe prepurchase or sale related audits and assisting clients in consolidating a well balanced future family distribution.

•  Appraisal: Évaluation - Valuations and condition reports.

Step one in the Art Authentication and Attribution process.

The Pre-Authentication Assessment

    Before you begin any authenticity, legitimacy, or artist attribution investigation, it is wise to have an impartial preliminary assessment of the viability of the project conducted first. One made to independently and rationally balance any negative issues there may be against the positive. You should treat this study as a safety net.

 We will be happy to professionally undertake this for you, based upon good quality images that you supply and all the known facts regarding its acquisition, the history and provenance of the work of art as is known to you.

You will then have a far better understanding of the prospects and indeed the possible pitfalls that could lie ahead.

See our FAQ's for details of the process

CONTACT US

We will respond to you promptly.

  Avant d'entreprendre une enquête sur l'authenticité d'une œuvre d'art ou l'attribution d'un artiste, il est plus que prudent de procéder à une évaluation impartiale de sa faisabilité. Ceci est fait pour équilibrer indépendamment tous les problèmes négatifs qui peuvent exister contre le positif.

Nous serons heureux d'entreprendre cette étude d'une manière professionnelle pour vous que nous considérons comme votre principal filet de sécurité.
Il sera basé sur les images que vous fournissez et tous les faits connus concernant votre acquisition, son passé et la provenance de l'œuvre telle que vous la connaissez.
Vous aurez alors une meilleure compréhension des perspectives et des difficultés éventuelles à venir, avant de prendre une décision.

  Antes de embarcarse en cualquier investigación de autenticidad artística o atribución de artista, es más que prudente realizar primero una evaluación imparcial de su viabilidad. Esto se hace para equilibrar independientemente cualquier problema negativo que pueda haber contra el positivo.

Nos complace emprender profesionalmente ese estudio para usted, que consideramos su red de seguridad. Se basará en las imágenes que usted suministre y todos los hechos conocidos con respecto a su adquisición, historia pasada y procedencia del trabajo tal como lo conoce.

Entonces tendrá una mejor comprensión.

ABOUT A WORK OF ART DESCRIPTOR AND ITS TERMINOLOGY

*It is very important to clearly understand the auction terms that are commonly used in any published descriptor and to be cautious of works that may just be created in the manner of the artist, or those which could be variants of the artists works of art that bear a signature or monogram. In this case as if they were defining the creations of; Jean Désiré Gustave Courbet (1819-1877) and his school or studio.

• Where the name, Gustave Courbet (1819-1877), is given with the first name/s and surname of the artist, usually cited as, Gustave Courbet (1819-1877), including his dates to be specific, then in their qualified and professional opinion, they are in no doubt. It is a genuine and authentic item and one painted by that artist. This is usually fully qualified by its inclusion in any catalogue raissone, or by the guarantee of the opinion given by the appropriate and internationally recognized expert authority on the artist.

• When Gustave Courbet (1819-1877) is the term used, or it is similarly defined as 'ascribed to' or 'Attrib. to ' [abbreviated,] or Attribué à, or ascribed to, then in their opinion it is 'probably' a work by the artist, at least in part. But... there is no guarantee. It is only an opinion that it 'possibly' may be by him.
  
  But if the term Gustave Courbet- circle of, entourage, or “Circle of Pieter Coecke van Aelst” is specifically used, then in their opinion, it is a work only of the period of the artist, but showing their influence. Or by someone closely associated with the artist, BUT not necessarily by their pupil or student.

• When the name is given thus; Painted in the “Style of Gustave Courbet” or “Follower of Gustave Courbet is used, this means that in their opinion it is a work of art executed only in the artist’s way, their 'style', but not necessarily by a pupil. Yet it may be a contemporary, or nearly a contemporary of the artist.

• If the phrase in the “Manner of Gustave Courbet is used or is defined….” then in their opinion it is also only a work painted in the style of the artist, but of a later date and definitely not by the artist as named.

• When the term “After….Gustave Courbet "; is the term used, then in their opinion it is a copy (made at any date) of an authentic and original work by the artist. This also applies to prints made 'after' an original work of art either by the artist or another artist/ printmaker.

• Signed - Gustave Courbet; “Dated….” or “Inscribed Gustave Courbet” Then in their opinion the work has been signed/dated/or inscribed by that specific artist. The addition of a question mark ? however, indicates a strong element of doubt.

• When the term 'Bears signature', is used or the name, Gustave Courbet is specified followed by the words; "With signature ….”, or “With date ….” or “With inscription….” or “Bears signature of Gustave Courbet/date/or inscription” Then in 'their opinion,' either the signature / date / or inscription is spurious, forged or has been added by someone else other than the artist.

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Gustave Courbet - Art authentication investigation experts Europe.| Identification of Courbet fakes forgeries | Researchers and art fraud investigators.

Gustave Courbet - Art authentication research and investigation experts In Europe.- Identification of Courbet fakes andCourbet forgeries and Courbet studio attributions, .
Expert de l'oeuvrede Courbet- painting authentification services.

Gustave Courbet Painting Authentication Experts | Investigators and Researchers | Fake Identification

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