Artwork Clue Checker
Select every clue you can find on the front, back and frame. You'll see what each one can tell you, how to research it, and where to start.
Which clues do you see?
0 selectedInterpret all your clues together with Veriso
Researching each clue separately takes hours. Veriso reads the signature and every label you photograph, weighs them against each other and against reference and auction records, and flags where they agree or conflict.
You get a possible attribution, a market estimate and the evidence behind each conclusion, including which clues supported it and which did not.
Reference: what each clue can tell you
A quick reference to the 13 clues researchers look for on paintings, drawings and prints, and the main limitation of each.
Signature
Can indicate the artist's identity if it is readable. May point to workshop, student or "after" works signed in a master's style.
First step: Photograph it sharply, filling the frame. Transcribe each letter you can read, marking uncertain ones with a ?.
Keep in mind: Fake signatures are common for famous artists.
Initials only
An artist who signed with a monogram, or a quick sketch or study. Sometimes an owner's or restorer's mark rather than the artist's.
First step: Note the exact order and form of the letters, including ligatures. Search monogram dictionaries and the monogram sections of artist references.
Keep in mind: Many artists share the same initials.
Date
When the work was made, or when it was signed, inscribed or labeled.
First step: Note where the date appears and whether it is painted, written or printed. Check the date against the candidate artist's life and active years.
Keep in mind: Dates on labels may be the date of a sale or exhibition, not of creation.
Location name
Where the artist worked, traveled or painted the scene. Sometimes the location of a gallery, framer or exhibition.
First step: Transcribe the place name exactly, including old spellings. Search regional artist directories, historical societies and local museum collections.
Keep in mind: A place name alone does not identify an artist.
Gallery label
A gallery that sold, consigned or framed the work at some point.
First step: Photograph the label flat and in full, including torn edges. Search the gallery name with the city to find its active years.
Keep in mind: Labels can be moved from one frame or work to another.
Exhibition label
The work was shown in a named exhibition, often with a catalog.
First step: Record the exhibition name, venue, year and any number on the label. Search library catalogs and digitized exhibition catalogs for that show.
Keep in mind: Labels can be transferred, and catalogs do not always include images.
Canvas stamp
The art supplier (colorman) who prepared the canvas.
First step: Photograph the stamp in raking light so faint ink is visible. Search the supplier's name in published directories of artists' suppliers.
Keep in mind: Dates the canvas, not the painting; old canvases were sometimes reused.
Dealer stamp
A dealer, framer or auction house handled the work.
First step: Record the full stamp text and any numbers next to it. Search the business name with its city to find active years.
Keep in mind: Dealers and framers handled works by many artists, including copies.
Inventory number
Cataloging by a collector, dealer, auction house or institution.
First step: Photograph every number, including chalk marks, which fade easily. Note the format: prefixes, slashes and letters often identify the system used.
Keep in mind: Numbers rarely identify their source without a matching record.
Handwritten inscription
Notes by the artist, a dealer, a framer or an owner.
First step: Transcribe the inscription exactly, including spelling and abbreviations. Identify the language and any dedication ("to my friend…").
Keep in mind: Inscriptions can be added by anyone at any time.
Title
How the work was named when it was exhibited, sold or cataloged.
First step: Search the exact title with the candidate artist's name. Try variants and translations (French and English titles often both exist).
Keep in mind: Generic titles ("Landscape", "Still Life") are rarely useful alone.
Artist label
A label the artist used for exhibitions or sales.
First step: Photograph it flat; note the printing method and any handwriting. Check the address against the artist's documented addresses and years.
Keep in mind: Labels can be copied, moved or reused.
Frame label
Who made or supplied the frame, and roughly when.
First step: Record the framer's name and address. Search framer directories and historical business listings.
Keep in mind: Frames are often replaced; the label may date the frame, not the painting.
Frequently asked questions
What do the labels on the back of a painting mean?
Labels usually record a gallery, exhibition, framer, dealer or the artist. Each one is a lead you can trace in catalogs and archives to rebuild the work's history and test a possible attribution.
Does a signature prove who painted a work?
No. A signature is a starting point. Signatures can be added later or imitated, so researchers compare them with documented examples and look for supporting evidence such as labels and records.
Which clue should I research first?
Usually documentary clues with specific details, such as an exhibition label with a number or a gallery label with a stock number, because they can be matched to a written record. The checker orders your clues for you.
What is a canvas stamp?
An ink stamp from the art supplier who prepared the canvas. Suppliers' trading dates and addresses are documented, so a stamp can help date the canvas and check whether other clues fit.
Is my selection stored or sent anywhere?
No. The clue checker runs entirely in your browser and nothing is uploaded or saved.