Fine Art Authentication Investigations

 
Enquêteurs d'authentification

Investigadores de autentificación

تحقيقات الفنون الجميلة المشروعة

Ermittler der Kunstauthentifizierung

Conducting Specialist Investigations into Confirming the Authenticity or Attributions of Works of Art believed to be by:

INDAGARE AUTENTICITÀ E ATTRIBUZIONI DELL'ART -  ENQUÊTE SUR L'AUTHENTICITÉ ET LES ATTRIBUTIONS DE L'ART
Nicholas Matthews Condy

(British, (1818-1851) 

or Nicholas Condy the Younger

 Often confused with his father, also names Nicholas Condy (1793–1857) and a painter, but principally of landscapes and genre subjects, Nicholas Matthews Condy, or Nicholas Condy the Younger (1816 – 20 May 1851) was ostensibly a British maritime painter. Born in Plymouth, he began his career in the navy but unsuited to the life, left to take up painting full time.

Noted for his highly detailed and accurate paintings of ships and particular their rigging, his paintings were regarded more as portraits of ships than just creative renderings.

J M W Turner’s patron, the Earl of Egremont, was impressed with his work and promoted his career and soon the young Condy had a wealth of patrons himself, eager to obtain his work.

Exhibiting three works at the Royal academy, his short lived career as a painter was cut short by an untimely death at only 33.

 His obituary reads: "His talent as a naval painter has been highly and universally appreciated , and many productions, exquisite for their meticulous finishing and their great precision of detail, remain in the hands of the connoisseurs, and will be more appreciated than ever, now that the hand which gave them the existence stopped working ".

 As can be seen from the examples set out below, Nicholas Condy 's paintings fetch increasingly high prices at auction today.

So there is an increasing need to be cautious when works do come up for sale and have them scrutinised closely. Particularly with a view to confirming both the legitimacy of any painting claiming to be by Nicholas Condy and equally, understanding fully, exactly what any auction or sale descriptors mean or infer. Identifying any historically incorrect attributions that may have been previously given is also vitally important.

 Unfortunately there are some artist attributions and descriptions that are deliberately falsified, based purely on the subject matter they depict, intending to deceive potential buyers. Others deliver honest mistakes. So any formal 'attribution' in itself should also be examined very carefully indeed, if only to verify that the quality, level of academicism and the accuracy of that assignment to that artist is well established and rightfully ascribed. The words 'Bears signature' is a common concern for us all and subjectively they need to be a match.

 Confirming that it is specifically accurate, correctly researched and a credible academic attribution is essential and it should always be kept in mind, that any attribution, no matter at what level of credibility or status it comes from, is still only an opinion that the work 'might' be or "could" be by that artist. 

It's a matter of your personal interpretation, discretion and judgement as to how you view and indeed, respect it.

 An increasingly popular mode of deception once an artist has become popular such as Condy and his contemporaries have, is for a less then honest dealer to take a similarly subjective, yet less important painting, in Nicholas Condy 's case, a typical marine portrait and either remove its existing authors name, or if it is a previously anonymous unsigned work, add a name to it such as Nicholas Condy to increase its value. This is the most common form of art fraud we encounter and investigate.

 To help understand the generally observed and well accepted semantics that are used in auction descriptions, they are set out further down this page. They define exactly what the 'expert's view of the work being offered is and they can also have a distinct bearing on the financial outcome. So be cautious that you don't miss the often well 'disguised' attribution. One that is carefully placed or even hidden somewhere in that descriptor which starts off by stating that it actually is BY the artist, when it actually is not and turns out to be an attribution or by a follower.!

***

 We are able to assist and advise you in all fine art related matters, particularly issues relating to the investigation of the legitimacy and attributions of Scottish art, including the works of Nicholas Condy and any other works of art that you need assistance or advice with.

Some examples associated with the Condy name appear below simply as comparative illustrations.

*No inference is made, nor is it intended as to the question of their legitimacy here on this page. Moreover they are an across the board, representational view of the differing types of works of art that have, are, or may in the future be offered and advertised for sale at auction internationally in the public domain and that you may need specialist advise on.

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

• Authentication: Authentification, Authenticity: Conducting comprehensive investigations and in depth research into a work of art with a view to establishing a correct, complete and formally recognized certification of legitimacy. One that's absolutely upheld by the appropriate, legally and internationally sanctioned authority, body or internationally acknowledged expert on that artist. Directing detailed and complicated inquiries, with multilingual capacity, including any international academic research and forensic applications that are required.
  
  
• Attributions: We conduct investigations with the intention of identifying and confirming the identity of a previously anonymous artist, studio or workshop, from which a work of art most likely originated. As well as, the re-examination and investigation of any previous attribution,. One which may be incorrect and scrutinizing an attribution that has been formally questioned or doubted.
  
  

•  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 well balanced future family distribution.

•  Appraisal: Évaluation -  Valuations and condition reports.

Step one in the Nicholas Condy & British Art Authentication and Attribution process.

The Pre-Authentication Assessment

 We strongly advise all clients before they embark on a full investigation into the legitimacy of art, or an artist or studio attribution inquiry, that it is very wise to engage us to undertake an impartial preliminary assessment of viability conducted first. One that is made to balance any issues that may be present that could make the longer term exercise unviable.

 This is a professional advisory service we provide and based upon the images you supply, the full details of work of arts acquisition, its history and provenance as is known to you, along with sight of any documentation, previous research or analysis that you may formerly have had conducted on it. You should then have a far better understanding of both the prospects that lie ahead, or any pitfalls we might face, before making a decision.

This is a logical and cost effective professional review and advisory for which there is a modest set fee.

Our FAQ section covers this in more detail.

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* ABOUT A WORK OF ARTS DESCRIPTOR AND ITS TERMINOLOGY *

As if in this case as if they were defining the possible works of the artist;  

Nicholas Condy

  *It is very important to clearly understand the general auction terms that are widely used in a 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 an applied signature' or monogram.

•  Where the name, Nicholas Matthew Condy (1818-1851) is given with the first name/s and surname of the artist, usually cited as, Nicholas Matthew Condy - including the dates to be specific, then in their qualified and professional opinion, they are in no doubt, it is a genuine and authentic item. One painted by that specific artist. This is usually fully qualified by its inclusion in any catalogue raissone, or by the guarantee of the opinion given by appropriate and internationally recognized expert authority on that artist.

•  When Nicholas Matthew Condy is the term used, or it is similarly defined as Attrib. to ' [abbreviated,] or Attribue, imputer à, imputée, or atribudo, 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 only 'possibly' may be by the artist.

•  But if the term Nicholas Condy , or Nicholas Condy - circle of, entourage, or "Circle of "Nicholas Condy 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, assistant or student.

•  When the name is given thus; Painted in the "Style of or "Follower of Nicholas Condy is used, this means that in their opinion it is a work of art executed only in the artist's way, in 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 Nicholas Condy 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 Nicholas Condy " 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 - Nicholas Condy ; "Dated.." or "Inscribed Nicholas Condy " 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, Nicholas Condy is specified followed by the words; "With signature ..", or "With date .." or "With ......inscription.." or "Bears signature of Nicholas Condy / date / or inscription" Then in 'their opinion,' either the signature / date / or inscription is spurious, apocryphal, of doubtful authenticity, forged and has been added by someone else other than the artist.
  

We can assist and advise you in all fine art related matters.

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