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

Walter Heath Williams

((1835-1906))

British

 Walter Heath Williams was principally a British traditional pastoral landscape painter from the south west of England. He exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy, at the British Institute and Suffolk Street. A prolific painter, whose wife, also a landscape artist often exhibiting alongside him, died at a young age. Tragically his following marriage saw the premature death of his second wife and he was to die in poverty in the Richmond workhouse at the age of 71.

 Confusion arises however with attributions to some works believed to be by him and another British artist, Walter Williams (1834-1906) from Surrey, as both were painting in the time frame and signing similarly enough, particularly when just W Williams is used, or a monogram W W appears.
However, the two artists created works that are distinctly different to each other when compared directly. With Walter's works usually much darker and his subject matter streams, wooded valleys and particularly mountainous Welsh scenes. Though Walter Heath Williams visited Yorkshire and painted some rare moorland scenes in Devon, Welsh scenes are not generally a subjective feature?

  W H Williams paintings are usually very well lit, bright yet tranquil, idyllic summery scenes, with cornfields, stooks and farms and pretty cottages. Often large trees feature prominently in the mid distance. He also often included figures going about their business, travellers on tracks and children by rivers, ponds and streams. Alternately, Walters paintings generally display a much darker and sombre palette.

 In this time, popular and successful artists such as these were quite widely imitated, making the confirmation of attributions to their names and a work of art's authenticity imperative. One thing that is extremely important if considering purchasing an attributed work, is the understanding the academic quality of where any attribution came from. With this in mind, it must be said that we all should be cautious when works do appear and are offered for sale claiming to be by Walter Heath Williams, particularly with a view to confirming the legitimacy of the painting and understand fully how it is described. Straightforward mistakes, as well as purposeful deception does still  regularly occur, particularly when offered on some less discreet internet platforms.

  A simple and increasingly frequent mode of fraud, particularly once an artist has become popular such as Walter Heath Williams and his contemporaries have done over the years, is for a less then honest individual to take a work of art that is subjectively similar and stylized, yet a far less important painting, such as W H Williams could possibly have created and either remove its existing artists name, or if it is a previously anonymous unsigned work, add a name or initials to it such as W H Williams to increase its value significantly.
 

 Bar far, that is he most common form of faking and attempted art fraud we encounter and have to investigate, 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 Walter Heath Williams and any other works of works that you need assistance or advice with.

 Simply as comparative illustrations and to show just how much money this artist's works can and do fetch. some examples of works of art sold at auction and associated with the name of Walter Heath Williams 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.

Step one in British Art Authentication and Attribution Investigation Process.

The Pre-Authentication Assessment

 We strongly advise all our clients, that before they embark on a full investigation into the legitimacy and authenticity of art, or an artist or studio attribution enquiry, 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 and unwise.

 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 THE TERMINOLOGY THAT IS USED *

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

Walter Heath Williams

  *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, Walter Heath Williams (1835-1906) is given with the first name/s and surname of the artist, usually cited as, Walter Heath Williams, 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 Walter Heath Williams  (1835-1906) , or simplified to W H Williams, 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 Walter Heath Williams , or Walter Heath Williams, circle of, entourage, or "Circle of " Walter Heath Williams 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 Walter Heath Williams 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 Walter Heath Williams 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 Walter Heath Williams " 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 - Walter Heath Williams ; "Dated.." or "Inscribed Walter Heath Williams " 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, Walter Heath Williams is specified followed by the words; "With signature ..", or "With date .." or "With ......inscription.." or "Bears signature of Walter Heath Williams / 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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