Our team, which includes experts, researchers, forensic specialists, and lab technicians, is spread across various countries and cities, from Amsterdam to Paris, London, and Washington.
THE CONTEXT OF AUTHENTICATING MONET PAINTINGS
Impressionism is generally presented as a painting style that captures the first and immediate impression our eyes experience as we see the light, the colors and the atmosphere in a landscape or a scene.
We are also told about the benefits of painting outside, outdoor, "en plein air" in French, to capture this unique impression the artist gets from the light, the natural colors and the ambient atmosphere.
The explanation we are given for the small dimensions of Impressionist paintings is that the artist had to be able to carry the painting under his arm, into the field, to paint on it instantly, like a photographer taking a shot of a unique event that will not last.
Claude Monet is the father of Impressionism. The name comes from the title of the painting he exhibited in 1874 Impression Sunrise. We naturally believe that he painted and operated like we were told the impressionists did.
Monet himself promoted the belief that he would set up his easel in front of a beautiful scene and would spontaneously proceed to paint it, to capture the fleeting impression it made at that very moment.
How surprising then, that he produced hundreds of preparatory sketches and drawings. While he had us believe he was busily painting, he was busily drawing. While we believed he was capturing "the moment" he was sketching the scene and would paint "the moment" back at the studio, perhaps a year later.
He did finally admit in 1920—when he was 80 years of age—"You must begin by drawing … Draw simply and directly, with charcoal, crayon or whatever, above all observing the contours, because you can never be too sure of holding on to them, once you start to paint."
He would work on his paintings sometimes for weeks and even months, in his studio. Not any differently from how generations of painters before him had done. He reworked and completed his 1892 and 1893 Rouen Cathedral paintings in 1894. He finished 25 of his London, Charing Cross Bridge paintings, when he was back in Giverny.
Regardless of the fact that Monet didn’t want us to know he was drawing and sketching and doing a lot of studio work, it is extremely useful for our authentications that he left us thousands of sketches and drawings. We use them as strong supporting evidence to help prove that a painting is probably authentic.
Monet did not stick to one carnet manufacturer. He used different ones. For example among his 1856 carnets the first consisted of twenty-eight drawings measuring 205 x 270 millimeters, and the second held nineteen drawings measuring 190 by 290 millimeters. Among the Marmottan Museum carnets, number I covers the years 1865-1919. It is 263 x 352 mm. Carnet VIII covers 1908 only and is 147 x 96 mms. There is evidence of removed pages in some of the carnets.
Another aspect is that while he signed most of the 2,000 paintings he produced, most of his hundreds of drawings are not signed. Some can be authenticated researching them in reverse, by identifying the paintings they preceded.
Monet was a serial painter. His painting series include:
- 23 Poplars
- 30 Haystacks
- 30 Rouen cathedral
- 37 Venice
- 50 Seine
- 100 Thames
- 250 of his garden
If you have a painting or drawing that is possibly by Monet, send us some photos of it. We might be able to authenticate it for you.
Claude Monet
Expert Services
14 November 1840 – 5 December 1926
About Claude Monet
Our team of experienced art historians and authentication experts are here to find the best possible outcome for your case!
We issue Monet Experts COA -Certificates of authenticity- opinions, authentication and attribution reports. We guarantee our authentications and certifications to be correct.
Free ConsultationFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- Send photos of the front, back, signature, and close-ups of details.
- Provide the dimensions of the artwork.
- Share all available information, including history, origin, previous owners, and copies of relevant documents.
- We will provide you with a quote.
- Upon payment,
- We will conduct all authentication work.
- We will deliver the authentication report, and if confirmed authentic, we will also issue a certificate of authenticity.
Typically, this is done after the research phase is complete. However, if you prefer to start with it, we are more than happy to accommodate that.
Monet Experts' paintings hold significant value, so for liability and insurance purposes, it is safer for the artwork to remain in your possession.
We can examine the painting through:
- High-resolution photographs
- Live video feed, such as a Zoom meeting
- Any art storage facility worldwide
- In person at your home, office, bank, hotel while traveling, or any location you prefer globally.
We conduct all necessary tests for authentication, including material analysis, dating, specialized photography, and forensic studies. The specific tests required may vary depending on the individual case.
It typically takes a few days for a print. For paintings, the timeline can range from a couple of weeks for straightforward cases to several months for more complex ones.
We do not charge for issuing a Certificate of Authenticity (COA). If the artwork is determined to be authentic, we will automatically provide the COA.
We charge no fees for answering many questions, providing advice, and offering value estimates, especially for select organizations and projects we support. Beyond that, our fees begin at $300 for basic services.
No, that would create a conflict of interest. We would have a financial incentive to reach a specific conclusion, which we cannot allow.
No, as it would create a conflict of interest. We would have a financial incentive to arrive at a specific conclusion.
Yes, they do, because our authentication process is highly detailed. We conduct in-depth research, examining every angle and considering all possibilities. We leave nothing to chance or hope. Our reports are fully referenced, and authenticity is established based on verifiable facts. As a result, our authentications can be checked, verified, and scrutinized. This thoroughness is why our authentications are accepted by everyone, from auctioneers to insurance companies and financial lenders.
We safeguard the privacy of all our clients, including both well-known public figures and organizations such as art galleries, auction houses, museums, law enforcement agencies, law firms, insurance companies, banks, and other lenders. We do not disclose their identities, the work we performed for them, or the outcomes.
Contact Us
Examination - We conduct artwork examinations at a location that suits you, whether it’s your home, office, bank, attorney's office, art storage facility, or even your hotel while traveling. Additionally, we can perform examinations at art galleries, auction houses, government offices, customs entry points, law enforcement facilities, or warehouses. We also accommodate examinations at places of worship, religious institutions, organizational sites, associations, clubs, libraries, colleges, museums, or conservator studios and laboratories. For insurance and liability reasons, we do not accept or examine artworks at our own facilities.
Email:
info@monetexperts.com
Phone:
+1 (646) 566-9240