Advisory, expertise & research

Acquire

We help collectors source works on the public and private market, assess their quality and context, consider market positioning and negotiate an acquisition. A specific search may focus on an artist, period, subject or the direction of a collection.

Sell

Confidential private sales and consignments are considered in light of the work and the owner’s priorities. We advise on presentation, positioning and the most appropriate route to market, including private collectors, institutions or auction houses.

Research & expertise

An attribution should be tested against evidence. We investigate authorship, provenance, bibliography, inscriptions and relevant comparisons, consulting appropriate specialists where their knowledge can clarify the work.

Our service is available to collectors, private owners, heirs, institutions and art-market professionals. An initial question may lead to focused catalogue research or a more substantial scholarly investigation.

A complimentary initial assessment

Every enquiry begins with a confidential preliminary review of photographs and available documentation. We assess the work’s research potential and whether further investigation appears justified.

This first review is without obligation. It helps define useful next steps before a more extensive assignment is agreed.

Research & catalogue documentation

Focused research considers historical context, known provenance, inscriptions and comparative material, and may result in a documented catalogue entry.

Following the initial review, the scope, fee and timeframe are agreed before work begins. The depth of the assignment depends on the work and the questions to be addressed.

Scientific research reports

A substantial report may include technical and stylistic observations, provenance, inscriptions and collector’s marks, iconography, archival documents, museum comparisons, bibliography and high-resolution comparative illustrations.

We examine arguments supporting an attribution alongside contrary evidence and alternative explanations. Observable facts, documentary evidence and scholarly hypotheses are distinguished, with recommendations for further research when appropriate.

A collaborative scholarly network

No single specialist can cover every school or artist. Where a project requires it, we consult art historians, museum curators and independent scholars with relevant expertise. The contribution and scope of any additional work are considered as part of the assignment.

Archival and museum research

Some questions require direct consultation of material that is unpublished or difficult to access. Research may extend to libraries, museum archives and print rooms in Europe, including resources at the Bibliothèque nationale de France and the Louvre’s Département des Arts Graphiques where relevant.

Connoisseurship, research and technology

Close visual study and historical analysis remain central. Digital archives, high-resolution image comparison and modern research tools help broaden the evidence available; their results are reviewed critically in the context of the object.

A commercial catalogue entry

Scholarly work can be translated into a clear, accessible catalogue entry for collectors, institutions and the international market. The text preserves the evidence, attribution qualifications and uncertainties while explaining why the work deserves attention.

From expertise to the market

We can provide an independent opinion on likely sale value, informed by market experience and ongoing auction review through La Sélection. This is distinct from a formal appraisal.

Following research, support may include private-sale or auction advice, introductions, liaison with scholars, conservation and framing recommendations, professional photography and presentation. The route is chosen according to the work and the owner’s objectives.

Complete confidentiality

Enquiries and documentation are handled discreetly. To begin, contact the gallery with photographs of the front and reverse and any available provenance, dimensions, inscriptions or previous research. We will reply personally with a preliminary view and proposed next steps.