Examination & Analysis
Technical Examination & Analysis
Beneath every painting’s surface is evidence — of how it was made, what it has endured, and what earlier hands have done to it. Examination reads that evidence.
Two different undertakings share this page, and the distinction matters. Technical examination is part of how we work: performed in the studio, it informs our treatment decisions and documents what the eye alone cannot see. Technical analysis is laboratory and instrumental study, reserved for research questions — rarely needed in private practice, and arranged when it is genuinely warranted.
Examination — performed in the studio
- Ultraviolet examination distinguishes original paint from later restoration and identifies the presence and condition of varnish layers.
- Infrared photography, performed in the studio, can reveal underdrawing and changes beneath the visible paint.
- Raking light maps the topography of the surface, aiding the documentation of impasto, brushstrokes, cupping and lifting paint, and canvas distortions.
- Magnification reads brushwork, craquelure, and the condition of the surface at the scale the artist worked.
Analysis — when research demands it
Where a question warrants deeper study, we arrange instrumental and laboratory analysis through specialist partners — X-radiography, elemental analysis such as XRF, and materials identification such as FTIR — and interpret the results in the context of the painting’s construction and condition. Analysis of this kind can be a significant investment, which is why we begin with examination: for most questions about condition and treatment, examination provides the answer at a fraction of the cost.
A word on attribution
Technical findings can strengthen or complicate an attribution, but attribution itself is the work of art historians and connoisseurs. We report what the physical evidence shows; we do not authenticate. Our findings are regularly used alongside archival and stylistic research by those who do.
Can you tell me if my painting is authentic?
Not by ourselves — no responsible conservator can. What we can do is document the physical evidence: materials and construction consistent (or inconsistent) with a period, hidden changes, earlier restorations. That evidence often becomes part of an attribution case assembled by qualified researchers.
What does ultraviolet examination show?
Materials fluoresce differently under UV. Aged varnish glows with a characteristic haze; recent retouching typically appears dark against it. It is the fastest way to see how much of a painting’s surface is original and how much is restoration.
Do I need technical analysis before buying a painting?
Usually an examination is enough — and it is inexpensive insurance. A pre-purchase examination with UV documentation regularly reveals restoration that is invisible in a sale room, and that information belongs in the price. Full technical analysis is reserved for research questions and can be costly; we will tell you honestly if your question warrants it.
Curious what is beneath the surface? Examination starts with a conversation about the question you’re trying to answer.
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