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

Henri Schäfer

(British- French, 1833 – 1916)

Also spelled Henry Schaffer and Henri Schaffer - Henri Schafer

Trying to clear up the confusion and constant mistakes regarding the Schaffer name !

 Henri Schäfer  who was French, born in 1833 – died 1916) was a Victorian era painter who trained at the École des Beaux-Art in Paris and worked extensively in France, Belgium, Germany and Spain.

  His favoured and specialised subject was painting architectural scenes, in particular, cathedrals and churches, historical townscapes and market squares. He was similar in some ways subjectively to the British artist Samuel Prout, who is considered to be one of the masters of architectural painting in watercolour. His style, somewhat reminiscent of Afred Montague.

  *But, one thing Henri Schafer is NOT, is the British artist, Henri 'Thomas' Schafer, born in London (1854-1922).

  His works differ so considerably in both style and certainly by the very specific choice of his subject matter, they are very, very different indeed.

Henri 'Thomas' Schafer's are in the main entirely genre and figurative scenes, of the type as are illustrated further below this text. Classical and elegant, depicting reclining women, but he also painted some fine portraits which appear in his oeuvres. But of Gothic church spires and Flemish medieval market places, with church goers or throngs of townsfolk, there are none what so ever!

   Unfortunately, the art world's artist 'bible' that was compiled on the worlds finest artists called Benezet or Bénézit's 'Dictionnaire critique et documentaire des peintre, wrongly merged these two artists together as being one and the same. Presumably based solely upon the similarity of the name and assuming they were one person. This has allowed for a great deal of confusion in theart market over the years, particularly with less specialist auction houses who still, believe it or not, totally mix things up between these very distinctively different artists. Artists who also make very differet levels of money!

 Some also mistakenly describe both the British and French artist as German and give varying death dates. To make matters worse there is a third Schafer, a little known Halberstadt painter and lithographer called Hermann Heinrich Schäfer! But it does serve to confirm the need to be cautious if you are a prospective buyer at auction.

 For the French born Henri Shafer, it is unusual to see paintings composed in landscape format. He preferred to choose standard portrait formats to emphasise the architectural forms he specialised in.

  Schaffer was an artist who worked in both watercolour and oils and mainly produced works in pairs of different sizes. His target market was the wealthier Victorian tourist and the European traveller. Equally, the quality of his work does differ considerably and many a work of a similar nature and subject that was created by an entirely different artist plying the same trade, can be passed off as a legitimate Schafer, particularly with the addition of initials or a signature to an otherwise unsigned, less monumental work.

 As can be seen from the more recent auction examples of Schafer works that are illustrated below this text, some of Henri Schaffer's paintings have fetched increasingly high prices at auction over the years, with many surpassing their auction estimates,

  With this in mind, everyone should be cautious when works do appear and are offered for sale claiming to be by this artist, particularly with a view to confirming the authenticity of the painting and also to understand fully how it is described. Mistakes as well as purposeful dupery I am afraid does occur.

  A simple and increasingly frequent mode of deception, particularly once an artist has become popular such as Henri Schaffer and his contemporaries have done, is for a less then honest individual, to take a work that is similarly subjective and stylized, yet far less important painting, in Henri Schaffer's case a simple architectural work of art and either remove its existing artists name, or if it is a previously anonymous unsigned work, add a name to it such as Henri Schaffer to increase its value significantly.

By far, that is the most common form of faking and attempted art fraud we encounter, not only here in Britain, but internationally.

***

 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 British and European fine art, including the works of Henri Schaffer and any other works of works that you need assistance or advice with.

 Simply as comparative illustrations and to show the values that this artist's works can and do fetch. some examples of works of art sold at auction and associated with the name of Henri Schaffer appear below.

*Note that no inference is made, nor is it intended as to the question of their legitimacy here.. 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 and appearing in the public domain and that you may need specialist advise on.

   The direction and subsequently the duration of any art authentication investigation or enquiry 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.
  
  

•  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 own 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 well balanced future family distribution.

•  Appraisal: Évaluation -  Valuations and condition reports.

La evaluación previa a la autenticación

 If you are seriously considering having any work of art authenticated, we strongly advise all prospective clients, that before moving on into a full investigation of legitimacy or seeking a confirmation of an attribution, that a fully impartial, preliminary assessment of the viability of doing so is conducted by us first. Much as a lawyer would assess and balance the prospects of the success of a case for you, well before presenting it in a court of law.
This is a comprehensive study and one made to address all of the positive aspects that would justify continuing with an investigation and setting them against any obvious issues there may be that could impede, or make any future investigation unwise or impractical to undertake.

 This is a professional advisory service and one that we offer to all our clients.

A preliminary assessment of viability can be undertaken very effectively, based on the best quality images that you supply and the full details of work of art in question. Along with the specific details of its acquisition, we will also address the particulars of its provenance as is known to you, alongside any documentation, previous research or analysis that you may have had formerly conducted.

 Having chosen to take this tried and tested route, you should then have a far clearer understanding of the prospects of success in your case, as well as recognising any pitfalls that you may face.  Simply put, view it as a safety net before you move on.

 This is a totally logical and cost effective professional assessment for which there is a modest set fee.

*Please see our FAQ section by clicking the link below which explains this process in far greater detail.

* ABOUT A WORK OF ARTS DESCRIPTOR AND THE TERMINOLOGY THAT IS USED *

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

Henri Schafer (1918–2008)

  *It is very important to clearly understand the 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, Henri Schafer (1918–2008) or Henri Scaffer, or Henri Schäfer, is given with the first name/s and surname of the artist, usually cited as, Henri Schaffer, 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 Attributed to Henri Schafer (1918–2008) or any of the above spelling variations, or simplified to Henri Schaffer, 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 Henri Schafer, or Henri Schaffer, circle of, entourage, or "Circle of " Henri Schafer 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 term is given thus; Painted in the "Style of or "Follower of Henri Schafer 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 Henri Schafer 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 that is named.

•  When the term "After Henri Schafer " 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 - Henri Schaffer ; "Dated.." or "Inscribed Henri Schafer " 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, Henri Schafer is specified followed by the words; "With signature ..", or "With date .." or "With ......inscription.." or "Bears signature of Henri Schaffer / 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.
  

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

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