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Article: Reading Attribution on an Antique Painting

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Reading Attribution on an Antique Painting

In 1897 a Berlin museum society bought The Man with the Golden Helmet as a Rembrandt. The Gemäldegalerie now labels it circle of Rembrandt.

A restoration and technical study in the 1980s confirmed older doubts. The painting did not change. Two words were added in front of the name.

A fire along the shore with ships at anchor, a 19th century French oil study in a narrow gilt frame Circle of Another hand, working close to the master in his lifetime. Fire by the Coast, Circle of Théodore Gudin
A floral garland on a black ground with the Holy Family in an oval at the centre, Flemish, 17th century Manner of His way of painting, taken up by a later hand. Holy Family in a Flower Garland, Manner of Jan Brueghel the Younger
The Virgin rising with arms open, carried by draped angels above a dark plain, after Poussin, dated 1881 After A copy of a known composition, dated here 1881. The Assumption of the Virgin, after Poussin

Attribution language is the word or two before an artist's name. It says how close a painting stands to its master, and nothing about how good it is.

What After, Circle of and Manner of Mean

Seven formulas, from his own hand down to a copy.

The name aloneHis hand · In his lifetime
Attributed toProbably his hand · In his lifetime
Studio ofHis workshop · In his lifetime
Circle ofAnother painter close to him · In his lifetime
Follower ofAnother painter · Near his time
Manner ofAnother painter · Later
AfterA copyist, from a known work · Any date

Only the first rung says he held the brush.

How to Read an Attribution on the Back

One canvas in the gallery carries three answers to the same question.

Gentleman in a Red Coat, French School, 18th century

An ink label on the stretcher reads, in French, unknown sitter, painting attributed to RigaudThe label, on the back.Attributed toThe old labelAn ink label in French on the stretcherUnknown sitter, painting attributed to Rigaud Smooth modelling in the face, the paint thinned to the weave in the shadowsThe face, on the front.AfterOur titleA painter working from Rigaud's modelNothing on the canvas names the hand A man in a red coat and lace cravat under a long powdered wig, French school, in a carved gilt frameThe canvas, entire.French SchoolThe artist lineWhere and when, and no nameUnsigned, about 1720 to 1750

A label is an opinion that nobody signed. Where it reaches higher than the paint, we take the lower rung.

What French School and Flemish School Mean

The one formula that claims no rung at all.

Allegory of Winter, French School, 17th century, oil on panel

French School, 17th century
WHEREthe tradition it belongs to WHENthe century it was painted

No rung claimed. No name, and no shrug either.

Reading Attribution Before You Buy

The name aloneAskFor the history behind it Attributed toAskWhose opinion it is Circle ofLookJudge the painting, not the name

The Man with the Golden Helmet, about 1650, Gemäldegalerie, Berlin, catalogued as Rembrandt (circle). The terms follow the cataloguing glossary in Sotheby's Guide for Buyers.

For sale in the gallery

19th century French oil study of a fire by the coast with ships, oil on canvas in gilt frame Fire by the Coast, 1800s $5,600See the painting A floral garland on a black ground with the Holy Family in an oval at the centre, Flemish, 17th century Rest on the Flight, late 1600s $6,900See the painting The Virgin rising with arms open, carried by five draped angels above a dark plain and a walled town, in a moulded gilt frame (after Poussin, 1881) Assumption of the Virgin, 1881 $3,500See the painting A man in a red coat and lace cravat under a long powdered wig, French school, in a carved gilt frame Gentleman in a Red Coat, 1700s $4,800See the painting
For sale
The Complete Collection The Complete Collection17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuriesBrowse the collection
Keep reading More in Learning to LookHow to Read Signatures and Inscriptions on Antique Paintings Every guide, by subject

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Photographs and descriptions of the paintings in our collection by GalerieClub Fine Art.