The short answer
First check whether it is an original painting or a print. Then look for a signature, labels and inscriptions on the back, and research whether the artist's work has sold at auction. Condition, subject, size and the record of where a painting has been all affect value. If the artist has a market or the painting looks old and skilled, get an opinion from a qualified appraiser or an auction house specialist before you clean, reframe or sell it.
1. Original or print?
- Look at the surface in side light: oil and acrylic paintings usually show brushstrokes and raised paint. A completely flat surface suggests a print, although some prints have added texture or brushstrokes on top.
- Use a magnifier: many printed images show a regular pattern of tiny dots. A painted surface does not.
- Check the edges: paint often stops unevenly near the edges of a canvas, while printed images can show crisp, straight borders or white margins.
- Watercolours and works on paper: look for variations in pigment and pencil lines under the paint.
Prints are not always worthless. Limited-edition prints signed and numbered in pencil by well-known artists can sell well, and so can some original etchings, lithographs and screen prints. Mass-produced reproductions and posters usually sell for little.
2. Find and read the signature
Check the corners of the front and the back of the canvas or board. Photograph the signature clearly and note the spelling. A signature helps you research, but it is not proof: signatures are easy to add, and many good paintings are unsigned. A signature that sits on top of cracked paint, or looks fresher than the rest of the surface, is a warning sign.
3. Turn it over
The back often tells you more than the front. Look for:
- gallery, framer, exhibition or auction labels and stamps,
- handwritten titles, dates, names and addresses,
- canvas supplier stamps, which can help with dating,
- the age and construction of the stretcher or board.
Photograph everything before you remove or disturb anything. Labels and inscriptions are part of a painting's history, called provenance, which can add a lot to value. Keep any receipts, letters or documents that came with it.
4. Research the artist
Search the artist's name with "painting" and "auction". Auction houses publish past results, and some price databases collect them, often behind a subscription. Check whether the artist's works have sold, at what level and for which kinds of work: a small sketch and a large finished painting by the same artist can sell for very different amounts. Watch for artists with similar names, and for paintings described as "after", "circle of" or "attributed to" a famous name, which mean the work is not confirmed as by that artist.
5. Check condition
Look for tears, holes, flaking or lifting paint, cracking, water stains, mould, discoloured varnish and earlier repairs. A UV light can show some later retouching. Do not try to clean a painting yourself. Household cleaners, water and even bread or saliva, which some people suggest, can cause permanent damage. Leave cleaning and repair to a professional conservator.
6. Know when to get an appraisal
Ask an expert if the artist has an auction record, the painting appears old and skilled, the back has gallery or exhibition labels, or you simply cannot tell. Options include:
- Auction house specialists: many give free valuations from photos when they would like to sell the work.
- Qualified appraisers: charge a fee for a written appraisal, useful for insurance, estates and donations. Look for membership of a recognised appraisal organisation.
- Artist foundations or catalogue raisonné authors: for some well-known artists, these are the recognised authorities on authenticity.
7. Where to sell
- Auction houses for paintings by artists with a market.
- Galleries and art dealers who handle that artist or style.
- Online marketplaces and local sales for decorative paintings and prints, with honest descriptions.
Large frames are fragile and expensive to ship. Get a quote before you sell to a distant buyer.
Where WorthAI fits
WorthAI can give you a first read on a painting or print from a photo, with a likely style or type, an estimated range and the listings behind it, so you can see whether similar works sell. Photograph the signature and the back as well. WorthAI cannot authenticate an artwork or confirm an artist, so treat any painting that might be valuable as a job for an appraiser or auction specialist.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if a painting is an original or a print?
Look at the surface in side light for brushstrokes and raised paint, and use a magnifier to check for the regular dot pattern of many printed images. Some prints have added texture, so check closely.
Does a signature mean a painting is valuable?
No. A signature helps with research, but signatures can be added later and many valuable paintings are unsigned. Value depends on the artist's market, quality, condition and history.
Where can I get a painting appraised?
Auction house specialists often give free valuations from photos for works they might sell. For a formal written appraisal, use a qualified appraiser who charges a fee and does not offer to buy the work.