Scientific Methods of Identifying Pictures

Abstract

UP to the present time the identification of works of art has been entrusted entirely to the art expert, who brings to bear upon the problem his wide experience and artistic training; and, in addition, it is probable that among those engaged in buying and selling pictures, many devices kept as trade secrets are useful in identifying pictures. While not for a moment denying that the final word should lie with the trained art expert, it is of interest to see how far scientific methods can be brought to bear upon this problem. The first step in this direction is a careful study of the history of pigments. By the examination of ancient documents, such as the illuminated manuscripts of the monks, Venetian Ducali, and the Coram Rege Rolls, it has been possible to plan out the history of pigments probably with sufficient accuracy for practical purposes, and to fix the dates approximately of certain pigments which appear and others that disappear from the artist's palette. This method, where applicable, may be regarded as infallible, as the presence of a pigment of a date more modern than the date at which the picture is supposed to be painted proves either forgery or repainting, and a careful microscopic examination make it quite possible to tell whether the picture has been repainted or not.