The art of attribution and the attribution of art

David Ekserdjian | The Critic | 13th November 2019

When is an Old Master not an Old Master? When an “expert” says so. Technical evidence of authenticity is sometimes very helpful. Often, though, the key question is who wielded the paint brush – the master or their helpers. Therein lies temptation. The professional kudos of making a big discovery “is often more than enough to make people suspend their disbelief.”