| It is very difficult,
even impossible, to make decisions about authenticity without seeing the
work in person. Some museums offer expertise as a service to their communities
but only when the work of art can be studied in person. Research begins
by consulting a catalogue raisonné (listing and description of all
of an artist's output). Some catalogues raisonné include information
about copies and forgeries. The standard index to these specialized and
very useful reference works is Timothy Riggs, The Print Council Index
to Oeuvre-Catalogues of Prints by European and American Artists (New
York, 1983). An expanded and up-to-date version of this resource edited
by Lauren B. Hewes is now available on-line at this site (select "Search
Oeuvre Catalogues" above). |
 |
