Determining the value of paintings can be a difficult and tricky process.
Determining the market value of paintings is always a tricky enterprise, given the volatility of the market and the trends of fashion. If you are interested in appraising the value of a portrait, especially one from the late 19th or early 20th century, the project is even more difficult due to the declining interest in portraiture in general. However, the good news is that portraiture in this time period produced some of the most valuable artworks in history, painted by artists like Renoir, Degas and Van Gogh.
Instructions
1. Check to see if the painting is signed on the front or back, whether it has a date, and whether it has a certificate of appraisal. If you do not have a least a name, it is very difficult to determine the value, so this is very important. You might need to carefully remove the painting from its frame to find the signature, which might be down in the front right or left corner.
2. Assess the condition of the painting. Is it in good shape, bad shape or moderate shape? Are there any holes? Is the paint flaking off the front? Are there any signs of water damage or unseemly wear and tear?
3. Search the Internet to see if the artist is a known or "listed" artist with any reputable organizations. This may take some searching, but frequently a simple browser search will produce immediate results, if the artist is known.
4. Search auction databases for recent sales of the artist's work. This may require paying a fee to the auction house for a recent list or for access to the auction house's online database.
5. Verify the authenticity of the painting. If the painting is signed by someone reputable, famous or of historic significance, determine whether it is a real signature or a real work by that person. To do this, find a painting by the artist, and compare the signatures. Also research the history of the painting you have, such as where has it been and who owned it last. If you trace ownership, this will frequently prove whether it is the real article or a fraud.
6. Compare the known factors of your painting---the size, condition, signature, year and quality of the work---with the qualities of the paintings which were recently sold in the same time period and by the same artist or associated artists. You can assume your painting will be worth equivalent value if the above factors are all similar.
