Can you trust examinations certifying the authenticity of paintings

[Artem]

Can you trust examinations certifying the authenticity of the pictures

03/27/2014

The so-called " reality Basner " * Total figure expertise. Basner opinion , on the one hand, on the other hand - the technological and artistic expertise of the Russian Museum , the Hermitage, the Marshall Center . IE Grabar . And the picture B. Grigorieva " restaurant " Basner still considers genuine, Russian Museum - fake. So I had the idea to understand what these same technological expertise, as they do, with what care and thoroughness.
    
           I studied it for example , on the one hand, the State Russian Museum ( Museum) , on the other hand, Constantine Azadovsky known historian of culture , art history with higher education. Example is interesting because Azadovskmy entered the museum in acute conflict relationship just on the basis of examinations. However, Russian museums since 2006 expert opinions make smoking, so they began to call them with advice , and it is about them and will be discussed .

Detective prehistory

The story begins in 2008, when Constantine Azadovsky wanted to sell two works from his collection, he inherited from father - the famous literary critic Professor Mark Azadovsky . K. Azadovsky : " My collection has always been relatively modest. She had about a hundred paintings , prints, drawings and etchings collected by my father , a passionate lover of art. A close friend of his father was a collector of FF Notgaft familiar Benois , MVDobuzhinsky , BM Kustodiev and others. In the 1930s and Azadovsky Notgaft lived in the same apartment on Herzen Street . Works fall into this apartment, exposed amateur assessment and then found myself permanent home on the wall of one of the rooms - or at Azadovsky or at Notgafta . "
It should be noted that the work fell to Notgaftu Azadovsky and artists during his lifetime , so it is difficult to assume that a fake created when market- auction price for their work not jumped , and emigrants AN Benoit and SY Sudeikin generally were in the USSR honored. This is the question about the reliability of the so-called " provenance " - the origin of the work .

And in November 2008, two works from the collection of Mark Azadovsky his son decided to sell and buy their collector wanted AV Azbel . Gouache Sudeykin (1911) watercolor and Benoit ( costume sketch for the play by Moliere " Doctor willy-nilly ," 1921). Wanting to authenticate both works Azbel addressed the belt ; Azadovsky not mind - was sure that things are true. Having been through a couple of days a verbal response (say, both things which are false ) Azadovsky insisted that the examination was conducted and issued officially . After this date belt made ​​two official detention. Both of December 5, 2008 , and both have not confirmed these artists authorship .

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The work of Benoit was written: " Research work package included comparative art history and technological research , including comparative stylistic analysis , as well as work with library materials . Technological study included X-ray fluorescent analysis , a study in the infrared and ultraviolet regions of the spectrum , as well as under the microscope , the comparison with the reference database. The studies authorship < ... > Benoit < ... > is not supported . < ... > In the infrared region of the spectrum is seen drawing graphite excluding hand Benoit . Character Stroke pen and ink ( smooth and quiet ) also has similarities with the author's handwriting artist. Inscription at the top of the sheet and the bottom ( including the artist's name ) is not similar in shape with handwriting Benoit . "
The work Sudeykin : "<... > Authorship < ... > Sudeykin < ... > is not supported . Watercolor pigments and paper can be dated no earlier than the second third of the twentieth century.

Preparatory drawing , visible in the infrared region of the spectrum , does not meet the standard of analogies among the artist's works . Handwriting signature and inscriptions on the back of the paper different from the known handwriting samples Sudeykin . <...> In the study gouache < ... > deliberate rudeness forms , local color solutions simulating applications ( not characteristic Sudeykin ) show only the helplessness and ineptitude artist sang it . "

In general, forged signatures , and that is drawn , performed poorly and clumsily . Both conclusions signed by senior researchers belt IB Verkhovsky , NN Solomatina , MV Cherkasova and Deputy Director for Research EN Petrova. Time frame for implementation of conclusions - two or three days .

If K. Azadovsky himself was not an art critic , and was just the buyer - collector , he may have believed and expertise. But he believed that the truth of the signature should establish another examination - handwriting on which employees are not eligible belt , and, for example , the output of the work of Benoit could be done only when compared with the standards . In response mentioned "comparison of the test sketch < ... > with the reference works ," but other drawings Benoit in 1921 for the play "The Doctor willy-nilly " is stored mainly in the State Museum of Theatre and Music . A reference to this museum was not. Finally, Azadovsky not figured out how to determine the age was the paper on which is written the work Sudeykin .

Azadovsky because ( it is necessary to know the energy and stubbornness ) appealed to the deputy director of belt Petrova , with advice offered to cancel . Petrov in response to a reported that gouaches Sudeykin additionally found " phthalocyanine pigments " ( in official custody of 5.12.2008 about them has not been told ) - the ones that appear in the " fact Basner ." It is now a universal skeleton key . Later pigments in the paint on - and all means fake.

counter-examination

There is intelligence counterintelligence . There have expertise and counter-examination . Contact the Department of handwriting analysis forensic police center in St. Petersburg and Leningrad region , received Azadovsky examination signed by the head of LA Sysoev and found that the signature of all the inscriptions and the figure made ​​by Benoit . Conclusion Sysoev occupies four pages , was based on a comparison of handwriting in particular handwriting and signature samples from the Museum of theatrical art , in particular, the form of hand movements : when the right element letter «d» - angular, when the element subscript letters " G »- arc , and when the compound of the letters « gr »- levookruzhno - loop etc. ( inscriptions are in French) .

Regarding signature Sudeykin Azadovsky comparing gouache signed by Sudeykin in his letters , he came to the unequivocal conclusion that the signature is authentic.

As for phthalocyanine pigments , the Institute of Precambrian Geology and Geochronology RAS produced a study of the elemental composition and negatively answered the question about the presence of pigments.

Finally , a leading researcher at the State Museum of Theatre and Music EI Grushvitskii concluded that Benoit Original watercolor .
Azadovsky appealed to the Ministry of Culture , to appeal against the actions of the belt and require a reassessment of their actions. Said Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage and Fine Arts Ministry of Culture AD Colo : "Recognizing your right not to be consonant with the conclusions of experts of the Russian Museum , Department of Cultural Heritage and Fine Arts nevertheless did not question their competence and proficiency ." No questions mismatch examinations of various departments in the Ministry of Culture has not caused .

I will write a letter to the museum

In the March 2014 edition of " 812 Cities " turned to the Russian Museum with a request to assess the opposite results of examinations. Here, the short answer , signed by the director Kit VA Gusev :

"1. " Theatrical Stage " SY Sudeykin (?) Studied X-ray fluorescent analysis using , and the assumption of a phthalocyanine pigment was made on the basis of indirect evidence ( using a portable device " Ultramag A14M " that is configured to determine the special inks in excise stamps and banknotes . Including device reacts phthalocyanine pigments , which was established on standard test specimens from the Department of technological Studies Museum).
As for the signature Yu Sudeykin , the Museum collection contains a sufficient number of reference works of the master , and the handwriting on the investigated product is compared with them. < ... > Visual comparison revealed differences handwriting on the back of the collection of gouaches KM Azadovsky and samples from the collection belt .

2 . " Costume for the play" Doctor willy-nilly " " AN Benoit (?) . In the collection of the Russian museum contains a large collection of drawings and watercolors AN Benoit , including a large number of theatrical productions . In particular, it presents the work for the theater beginning of the 1920s to such productions as " The Queen of Spades " (1921 ) , < ... > " Doctor willy-nilly ." Most of these works , as well as the main body of works by the artist , came to the Museum of St. Petersburg apartment Benoit family in the first half of the 1930s . The availability of these works in the collection of the Russian Museum allowed to make a comparative study . Theatrical works AN Benoit as the beginning of the 1920s and other periods distinguished manner characteristic of a pencil. His drawing is always very widely, is seen at a colorful layer . At all investigated sheets belonging hand AN Benoit from the Russian Museum no edits and removal preparatory drawing eraser . The artist never hid it and did not try to remove or fully paint .

In the present study to present a sketch costume weak preparatory drawing , almost all processed eraser and visible only in the infrared region of the spectrum. < ... >

We have selected and carefully examined more than 200 samples of signatures < ... > Benoit , since teenage years and up until the 1950s . As a result of the volume of work was not found anything close handwriting on the investigated product . < ... >
Based on these data collectively and it was decided to set out in advisory letters of the Russian Museum . "

Meaning of the answer is simple Guseva : Belt conclusions are correct, the answer to our question : "How could appear so different conclusions ? " - We did not get . As a result, editors asked to comment on the answer of the belt itself K. Azadovsky .

Azadovsky : Session Ultramag and his exposure

In fact the current response Gusev is composed of two documents , one of which was prepared at the time SV Sirri , who heads the department of technological studies belt , the other - NN Solomatina , researcher belt and one of the authors made ​​in 2008 ** advisory opinions . Repeating the conclusion that both things belonging to me - forgery , Gusev begins with phthalocyanine pigments , allegedly found in gouache Sudeykin . However , said the director , it is - just " speculation " rendered " on the basis of circumstantial evidence ." Why indirect ? What's the matter ?

But the fact that the search phthalocyanines belt is made with a handheld device " Ultramag A14 M" responsive "including " and phthalocyanines . In fact, this device is intended " to check and special excise stamps for tobacco products , certain types of securities, bank notes and documents ." And this is the perfect tool " to identify fake liquor immediately before the acquisition ."

All this is well known in the belt . "The exact determination of the presence of phthalocyanine pigments in paint possible on special equipment - Sirri explained in one of his correlations ( from 14.03.2012 ) in the name of Peter , - ... which , alas, does not have the Russian Museum , and if necessary, we have to turn to specialists from other organizations for a fee . " And would appeal ! Otherwise , it turns out, cheated client. After examination for gouaches Sudeykin I gave the cashier belt 17 700 rubles.

Another question : how to set a timing mismatch of signatures on both works of the so-called " reference samples "? Vladimir Gusev defines the procedure adopted in the belt , the term " visual comparison ". That is, simply put , to the eye . In fact, the signature is recognized only fake or authentic from a special handwriting analysis. No handwriting examination of the works belonging to me Sudeykin and Benoit was carried out.

And here begins the other , I would say , a fantastic aspect of the history of the museum , which is absent in the letter Gusev.

Responding to my complaint about poor examination Petrov in a letter to me from 18.02.2009 informed that the experts of the museum, wanting to recheck their own conclusions on signature Benoit addressed to experts (plural !) MFN , " which examined the handwriting on this sheet and reference figures AN Benoit from the Russian Museum . " Under the "experts" implied DO employee MFN Zipkin , while the head . kodilogicheskih laboratory research and scientific and technical expertise of the document. A copy of his letter to Petrova of 6.02.2009 was forwarded to my address .

After reading this document , I learned that "prior acquaintance" with watercolor Tsypkin Benoit allowed to conclude that the signature to my watercolors, may not be the genuine signature Benoit . And wishing to see this finally , the letter said Tsypkina should put at least 50 thousands (and possibly more ) rubles.

Cite facts makes me suspect that the experts and expert belt MFN , acting in collusion , recognized fake two pieces of Russian art of the early twentieth century.

1. Watercolor and gouache Sudeykin Benoit took a belt Azbel who wished to buy them. I learned of his intention to mind , although he was surprised. What expertise ? Both of these things are in our family since the day I was born , and their provenance is impeccable. However Azbel insisted. And a few days later called me and said the answer Russian Museum : forgery. From the beginning, I felt that something fishy . How so? Man makes the Russian Museum , is not formalized , two graphic works ; staff immediately investigate both things and pronounce a verdict . Thus the customer ( Azbel ) instructs one of the experts ( MV Cherkasov ), explaining how to conduct examination watercolors Benoit , namely in the form of zakonvertovannom (ie under glass ) .
"... The work of Benoit 's under glass - 14.07.2011 Cherkasova admitted to a police officer carrying out a formal verification , I was forbidden to open , forbade c. Azbel which has brought these works to the study. Cit Azbel twice brought in the timing of the above to obtain advisory opinions. The first time we verbally informed Azbelev that he did not give details of the consultation for the conclusion, since it does not make sense " (material test A- 39, p. 60-60 vol. ) .

This fact alone negates , to my mind , all further " research" and " conclusions."

2 . Another fact : breathtaking speed. According to the act of acceptance for temporary storage , both things went on Belt 27.11.2010 . Then , 4.12.2008 , has been issued a contract between Azbel and belt . 5.12.2008 fell on Friday. And on Monday 8.12.2008 Azbel takes both things ( return attested act ) and gets on his hands with advice , certified Petrova.

So, all was done in a single day (December 5 ) - all under the contract "action" and "consultation" , " relatively Art and technological research , including comparative stylistic analysis , as well as work with library materials "; moreover - XRF analysis, comparison with the reference data base , etc.

As a rule, this kind of work takes a few weeks ( in the text of the model contract states: " During the one and half months .") And then - one day cranked up !

3. Now, about the amount of 50-70 thousand rubles, which was later , answering questions of a police officer , Zipkin call " indicative ". Of course, this figure was invented - is taken from the ceiling. Never, as far as I know, no one examination for (and even more laborious ) MFN does not appoint such a price .

Interesting details of the " preliminary examination " conducted by Zipkin , came into the light when the police took up the case . First, the Zipkin completely disown them signed a paper saying that no examination was conducted , it could , according to him, begin only after consultation with the belt ( Tsypkina explanation from 12.04.2012 ) . Secondly, it became clear that at that time there was a contract between the belt and the NLR " on cooperation in the field of technical and technological historical and documentary research ," which provided a kind of shared experience. Time - up to 31.12.2009 . Nevertheless, in April 2012 Zipkin refers to the document in real time.

All this has seemingly direct relationship to Benoit and Sudeikin . However, in the text of the agreement in black and white stating that cooperation between the belt and the NLR under this agreement shall be " mutually gratis ." If so, why watercolor against Benoit Zipkin makes an exception and sets the price of 50-70 thousand rubles ?

My conclusion : this disproportionate amount was intended only to scare me away from further action.

The venture , however, took place . Examination signature Benoit , whether carried out (" pre ") kodilogicheskoy laboratory , or deferred to a clarification of the payment , the staff began to treat belt as proof of their innocence . That, they say , we spent the expertise on the side and all confirmed : Benoit signature does not match the " samples ".

Impresses with scale studies conducted Tsypkina belt and employees at an early stage . " To confirm or refute our findings on this issue - said Solomatina - were attracted specialists ( again plural !) From the National Library of Russia , who studied the handwriting on the sheet and reference figures AN Benoit from the Russian Museum . Within the framework of a cooperation agreement in the field of technical and technological , historical and documentary research were selected and carefully examined more than 200 samples of signatures Alexander Benois . Were examined handwriting samples AN Benoit , since his youth, and until the 1950s . As a result of these studies was not found anything close handwriting on the investigated product from the collection of KM Azadovsky . "
Striking discrepancy in the written submissions and Solomatina Tsypkina one denies that examination , the other claims that it still took place. Cooking with advice , the staff managed to belt away and carefully study ( one day something !) More than 200 samples of signatures Benoit " since his youth, and until the 1950s ."

It looks like that in general play, which played in front of me "experts ."

Back to the letter V. Gusev. Perelagaya text Solomatina , director informs the following fact : the majority of theatrical productions Benoit received in RM of St. Petersburg apartment artist's family in the early 1930s . It is the presence in the timing of these works , said Gusev, allowed to make " comparative study " regarding watercolors Benoit .

As for the " Doctor willy-nilly ," then work Benoit for this play are not only in the belt , which houses only one (!) Sheet , and much more - in the St. Petersburg Museum of Theatre and Music , which came a series of watercolors stylistically related to that was in our family. " A Comparative Study of " belonging to me watercolors conducted without reference to the meeting of the museum , is meaningless . Proclaiming as a " benchmark " is hardly all work Benoit , he created " From his youth up to 1950 " , the experts made ​​a belt , in my opinion , a kind of " proxy" - use "samples" , obviously unrelated to the case. What is behind this : professional incompetence or bias? I do not know . But one thing I can say for sure. For " advisory opinion" held at this level should not be required seventeen and a half thousand - they do not cost a dime ! "

About Azadovsky write Basner in mind

The main thing that can be understood from the conflict Azadovsky - Russian Museum: despite the " man-made " color expert , hinting at a purely objective nature of detention, all they are extremely subjective and even less reliable than the opinion of an experienced expert, based on visual inspection , for example, that same EV Basner . Especially in a time when the museum is no necessary equipment. If we take , for example, the same picture B. Grigorieva " restaurant " , then it phthalocyanine pigments could appear at any moment . But when they appear , whether they are present on the surface or are in copyright coat of paint - no one knows and does not explain , however , based on only this formal feature talking about a fake at all funny . You should not make a fetish of the results of technical studies with the use of certain devices - from a scientific point of view it is not correct , although it is very beneficial to any manipulation.

We intentionally asked Director belt Guseva what their reliability assessments, ie What is the mathematical probability of the truth of the conclusion of authenticity /inauthenticity . Sense of timing response boiled down to the fact that the probability of 100%, ie conclusion is reliable, but it is ludicrous conclusion from a mathematical point of view.

In other words , I am surprised that in all examinations no mathematics, ie a natural measure of how probability of a correct judgment of the expert. Say , the probability of the truth of the result of a pregnancy test is 97 %. And in the case of test for authenticity of authorship pattern ? So far, this question does not even arise , although the likelihood of this can and should be evaluated. Can be identified risk factors to estimate the probability forecast (=truth judgments ) for each of them, and then multiply the probabilities . It is quite obvious that if the resulting probability of less than 0.75 , it is dangerous to buy a picture , if between 0.75 and 1.0 , then the purchaser shall itself , knowing about it, make a decision, knowing that in the examination of reliability is not 100%may in principle . If this mathematical model existed and was introduced into the public consciousness , then this paradox as "business Basner " in general would not occur . After Mendeleev postulated : "Science begins where begin to measure ." So while all examinations , including the use of instruments - the area of amateurism , the first sign of which is the lack of understanding of what is the probability the correct result .

http://www.online812.ru/2014/03/31/009/

[Евгений]

Сообщение от Artem; 3069501"

Do not make a fetish of the results of technical studies with the use of certain devices - from a scientific point of view it is not correct , although very beneficial for all sorts of manipulations.

All right ... the main thing here conscience expert , and she recently at the museum "experts" are conspicuously absent .
------------------------------
"Conscience , the category of ethics , which characterizes a person's ability to exercise moral self-control ... "

[sergejnowo]

To me, this lack of competence , or rather the lack of desire to specialize .
One need not be a prophet from God, it's a matter of concentration of the initial information , in other words , specialization .
For example , an art historian specializing in Benois .
If he examined , described and analyzed for yourself all available in an accessible form of A. Benoit , " smashed " their data , including equipment, materials and signature , " tied " to their geographically and theatrical performances , for example ... ..
This specialist need 30 seconds to "diagnosis" . In the presence of basic information in maximum size , any original watercolor easily " squeeze " in the number of works available in the database .

[eustace]

Сообщение от Eugene

. Thing here, conscience expert,

And this is like the old joke:

But what about the conscience?

And I agreed with a conscience!
<! - ~ 7 ~ ->

..................

Always easier to say: This is not it.
And take money for "expertise."
And you can even destroy the artists signature on the paintings.

As an option.
<! - ~ 1 ~ ->

[NATA NOVA]

Nobody can be trusted, because falshaki already included on the official websites of artists.
(Dead, famous, expensive and popular)

And in the history of auction sales as the originals hang ...

Saw firsthand.

[тата]

Сообщение от NATA NOVA

can not trust anyone , because falshaki already included on the official websites of artists. ( Dead, famous, expensive and popular )
And in the history of auction sales as the originals hang ...
Saw with my own eyes .

Trust, but verify !
I agree totally fakes sales results and they distort the overall picture. Really why put that undoubtedly pronounced bullshit ? Maybe we should filter such work ?

[kozhinart]

Сообщение от acetate

Trust, but verify !
I agree totally fakes sales results and they distort the overall picture. Really why put that undoubtedly pronounced bullshit ? Maybe we should filter such work ?

The market is not interested , at the system that now exists as a quality criterion is very conditional .

[тата]

Сообщение от kozhinart

market is not interested , at the system that now exists as a quality criterion is very conditional .

What kind of system , which really is not necessary? And you look at sales results would Alexei Stepanov or Stanislav Zhukovsky ... about what criteria you say. Often one criterion real or not, and 75%or 95%true - it does not happen .

Added after 7 minutes

Сообщение от NATA NOVA

acetate, fully fixed left on decent sales and auctions .. quietly currently being featured long .
Fixing process sales decent auctions ( who are interested in it ) is automatic , falshakov including .. <! - ~ 1 ~ ->

Agreed. But the little red circles (indicators ) is still on - artinvest are sometimes caught. <! - ~ 1 ~ -> Yes, and publish catalogs of counterfeit spare ... And of course this will not be engaged , that they recognize that sell fakes.

[kozhinart]

Сообщение от acetate

What kind of system , which really is not necessary? And you look at sales results would Alexei Stepanov or Stanislav Zhukovsky ... about what criteria you say. Often one criterion real or not, and 75%or 95%true - it does not happen .

Added after 7 minutes


Agreed. But the little red circles (indicators ) is still on - artinvest are sometimes caught. <! - ~ 1 ~ -> Yes, and publish catalogs of counterfeit spare ... And of course this will not be engaged , that they recognize that sell fakes .

Criterion investment attractiveness consists of expert assessment and sales history , exhibitions , publications, works , the sheer quality of the product in terms of its artistic value, authenticity, in this system again. Identifying counterfeit market is not necessary, if demand exceeds supply . It harms the reputation of even the affected person , as he will have to admit that he bought a fake or poor quality work.

[Маруся]

Well, as soon as the theme from " The Russian museum against Benoit " turned into a discussion on pravomenrnosti expertise ...
Also will state : without examination - anywhere! Examination only need a professional and responsible ( in all senses)

But arguments such as :

Сообщение от NATA NOVA; 3070011"

can not trust anyone , because falshaki already included on the official websites of artists .

What is the "official site of the artist "? ? ?
- 's Still alive or artist 's Fund , which blyudut heirs - they are fakes publikyut ?
- Auction site which publishes all sold works on the principle of " seen , inspected, bought "?
- Or poster lovers /fans of the artist, where the audience , all the left leg wants ( the love of art , of course)

And here the examination ? ? ?