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
Arthur Wilde Parsons RWS

(British, 1854-1931) 

 Born in Bristol, Arthur Wilde Parsons was a largely self taught artist who regularly visited Cornwall to paint whilst visiting his brother a clergyman in the village of Crantock near Newquay.. He was a painter in both watercolour and oils and his his earliest subjects were based on the shores of the Bristol Channel, to be followed by his more famous Cornish scenes painted in summer.

 He visited and painted in Holland and in about 1911 also Italy which had a major influence on his work. Here he produced mainly Venetian scenes. In 1904 he became a founder member of the 'Bristol Savages' group with Ernest Ehlers. They were a close knit society of Bristol based artists who were encouraged to meet regularly and hold exhibitions of their works locally.
Wilde Parson's subjects range from landscapes to Cornish seascapes, coastal and marine subjects including works painted of the the Thames and London. He exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1876 and regularly at the Royal Institute and the Royal Society of British Artists.

 As can be seen from the examples set out below, Arthur Wilde Parsons's paintings fetch increasingly high prices at auction today, as the little known artist attracted far less attention at auction in the 1970' and 80's, only making a few hundred pounds on a good day.

But over the years he has been more and more appreciated, with some works far exceeding their auction estimates and moving into the thousands of pounds. This has inevitably encouraged the unscrupulous to ply their trade. 
So there is always a need to be cautious when Parson's 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 Arthur Wilde Parsons 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, intending to deceive potential buyers. Others are 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.

Arthur Wilde Parsons Fake works of art:

 An increasingly popular mode of deception once an artist has become popular like Parsons and his contemporaries have, is for an less then honest dealer to take a similarly subjective, yet less important painting, in Arthur Wilde Parsons's case, a typical Cornish coastal scene or marine work and either remove its existing authors name, or if it is a previously anonymous unsigned work, add a name to it such as Arthur Wilde Parsons 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 Arthur Wilde Parsons and any other works of art that you need assistance or advice with.

Some examples associated with Arthur Wilde Parsons 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.
  

•  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 formally 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 the Arthur Wilde Parsons & Scottish 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.

<FAQS>

CONTACT US

CONTACTEZ NOUS

We will respond to you promptly.

* 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;  

Arthur Wilde Parsons 1833-1893

  *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, Arthur Wilde Parsons (1837-1916) is given with the first name/s and surname of the artist, usually cited as, Arthur Wilde Parsons, called Arthur Wilde Parsons - 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 Arthur Wilde Parsons, 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 Arthur Wilde Parsons, or Arthur Wilde Parsons- circle of, entourage, or "Circle of "Arthur Wilde Parsons 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 Arthur Wilde Parsons 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 Arthur Wilde Parsons 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 Arthur Wilde Parsons" 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 - Arthur Wilde Parsons; "Dated.." or "Inscribed Arthur Wilde Parsons" 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, Arthur Wilde Parsons is specified followed by the words; "With signature ..", or "With date .." or "With ......inscription.." or "Bears signature of Arthur Wilde Parsons/ 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.

ART AUTHENTICATION EXPERTISE LINKS - LISTED BY ARTIST NATIONALITY

VOIR L'EXPERTISE EN AUTHENTIFICATION D'ART PAR L'ARTISTE

British Artist Authentication

WILLS James Rev

Marie Spartali STILLMAN

Sophie ANDERSON

Jacob van WALSCAPELLE

Pieter Jansz. SAENREDAM

Luis Ricardo FALERO

LIENS D'AUTHENTIFICATION D'ART PAR GENRE

OLD  MASTER  ART

Art Ancien

Authentification d'art européen

ALTARPIECE &  PANEL  PAINTINGS

Retable et peintures de panneaux

IMPRESSIONIST   &  MODERN  ART

Art impressionniste et moderne

BRITISH  ART   AUTHENTICATION

Authentification d'art britannique

FRENCH  ART   AUTHENTICATION

Authentification d'art français

SCOTTISH  ART

Authentification de l'art écossais

Art hollandais et flamand

JUDAICA- JEWISH ART

Judaica - Authentification de l'art juif

IRISH ART AUTHENTICATION

Authentification d'art irlandais

AMERICAN ART AUTHENTICATION

Authentification d'art américain

RUSSIAN ART AUTHENTICATION

Authentification d'art russe

SPANISH ART

Authentification d'art espagnol

CUBAN ART

Authentification d'art cubain

Authentification d'art canadien

HUNGARIAN ART

Authentification d'art hongrois

NORDIC - SCANDINAVIAN ART

Art nordique et scandinave

ISRAELI  ART

Authentification d'art israélien

ITALIAN ART AUTHENTICATION

Authentification d'art italien

CORNISH ART

INTERNATIONAL PORTRAITURE

TERMES ET CONDITIONS

CURRENT INVESTIGATIONS

ENQUÊTES ACTUELLES

LISTE DES CLIENTS D'ENTREPRISE

REGIONS