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EXPERTS INVESTIGATEURS INTERNATIONAUX EN AUTHENTICITÉ DES BEAUX-ARTS - ARTISTES ATTRIBUTION LEGITIMACY CONSULTATIONS

Investigating the Authenticity of Paintings and works of art believed to be by or Attributed to

Benjamin Williams Leader, RA

Born Benjamin Leader Williams né Benjamin Williams

(British, 1831-1923)

 Was one of Englands most prominent Victorian landscape painters who worked mainly between the Severn Valley, Worcestershire, and Wales. Leader also painted in other parts of Britain including Devon and Surrey and abroad in Germany, Switzerland, France and Belgium.

 Clearly there is no need at all for another account of the life of Benjamin Williams Leader to be written here. It has been exceptionally well documented by others. However, because of his following and certainly the values of works of art that are available today, the artist was and will still be imitated.

 Adding a signature to a painting either by deletion of a previous one, or the addition of one to a previously unsigned work, is a common place fraud and any attempt at such imitation is clearly a criminal deception. Today, paintings are deliberately faked, or more commonly, they can be misrepresented or simply misattributed to a hand. That of course can be either mistakenly or deliberately and have been made at any time in the present or the past.

  It must be said, that some of the Benjamin Williams Leader works that have and do surface in the future will need serious consideration and investigation to be absolutely certain of both their legitimacy and that a previously given attribution, or the provenance and history associated with it is sound. Or that any description is correct and can truly be relied upon.

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 We are international fine art consultants, authenticity investigators specialising in conducting full investigations into the authenticity of works of art created by artists in all categories, in all regions and from historical eras. We fully scrutinize and track provenance,

confidentially serving 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 authentication, legitimacy and the attribution of old and modern master works of art. Including the fine works of Benjamin Williams Leader, his circle and followers, or any paintings or works of art that you are unsure about.

 Some examples of works signed with that name appear below.  No inference or question is made as to their authenticity, moreover they are a cross the board representational view of the types of works offered for sale at auction internationally, some of which will need to be understood and sometimes specifically need to be fully qualified and authenticated.

Evening, Worcester-clearing up after rain signed

and dated 'B.W.LEADER.1886, signed and i

nscribed with title in pencil on stretcher oil on canvas.

Sold for £55,250.00 US $83,845.00

Benjamin Williams Leader, R.A.
1831-1923 BRITISH - A SUMMER'S DAY, WHEN

THE SOUTH WIND CONGREGATES IN CROWDS,

THE FLOATING MOUNTAINS OF THE SILVER

CLOUDS signed B. W. LEADER and dated 1888 inscribed No. 1, A Summer's Day, the Floating Mountains of the Silver Clouds B. W. Leader on the stretcher oil on canvas SOLD. $242,500.00 USD

Follower of Benjamin Leader Cattle and figures

by a lake in an extensive Welsh landscape with signature B.W. LEADER oil on canvas
Sold for £1,195.00

Benjamin Williams Leader

ART AND AUTHENTICITY

  Both the duration and direction of any attribution or investigation into the authenticity 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 and directing comprehensive investigations and in depth research, with a view to establishing a correct, complete and formally recognized certification of a work of art.

One that is absolutely upheld by the appropriate, legally acknowledged and internationally sanctioned authority, body or expert on that given artist. By directing detailed and often complicated inquiries, with multilingual capability, full international academic research and any 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, quality and condition reports.

Step one in the Art Authentication and Attribution process.

Benjamin Williams Leader

The Pre-Authentication Assessment

    Before you begin any art 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 elements. You should treat this study as your initial 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 pitfalls that could lie ahead.

See our FAQ's for details of the process

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 PAINTING DESCRIPTORS AND AUCTION TERMINOLOGY

Benjamin Williams Leader

  It is important to clearly understand auction terms that are used in any published descriptor, in order to be cautious of works that may just be painted in the manner of the artist, or even the stylized - would be copies of his works which bear a signature or monogram.

In this case if they were defining the paintings and drawings of the British artist Benjamin Williams Leader:

 Where the name, Benjamin Williams Leader is given with the first name/s and surname of the artist, usually cited as Benjamin Williams Leader, then in their qualified and professional opinion they are in no doubt, it is the genuine and authentic item, one painted by the artist himself.

 When Attributed to Benjamin Williams Leader, or it is similarly written or used as ascribed to or Attrib, [abbreviated,] 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.

 When Benjamin Williams Leader; “School of, or Studio of ….” or “Workshop of Benjamin Williams Leader" or atelier of Benjamin Williams Leader " is used, this means that in their opinion it is a work executed in the studio of the artist. Possibly by an apprentice or a pupil under the principal artists supervision and guidance.

 But if the term Benjamin Williams Leader circle of, or “Circle of Benjamin Williams Leader” is specifically used, then in their opinion, it is a work only of the period of the artist, but showing his influence, or someone closely associated with the artist, BUT not necessarily by his pupil or student.

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

 If the phrase in the “Manner of Benjamin Williams Leader 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 himself.

 When the term “After….Benjamin Williams Leader "; 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 himself or another artist/ printmaker..

 Signed - Benjamin Williams Leader ; “Dated….” or “Inscribed Benjamin Williams Leader ” 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, Benjamin Williams Leader is specified followed by the words; "With signature ….”, or “With date ….” or “With inscription….” or “Bears signature of Benjamin Williams Leader /date/or inscription” Then in 'their opinion,' the signature / date / or inscription is spurious, forged or 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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