Maria Pia Delledonne -website

About copies of art.

Since ancient times,students and painters who worked in the workshops of the masters,produced copies of the originals that were sold,then,as the master's works.Currently copies of art,(which in Italy are commonly called false),represent a very broad market by type and quality of work.
Applicantions range from real collector who wants a copy worthy of the original,up to the buyer who wants,simply,to adorn the walls of his house with a nice painting and the fame subject.The latter allternative has enabled a flourishing market of copies produced in China.
We distinguish the following production quality:the museum,high,goog,commercial.

Vincent van Gogh -  The restaurant of the siren at Asnieres - 1887

Vincent van Gogh - Van Gogh's bedroom in Arles - 1889

Claude Monet - Water lilies - 1907

Edgar Degas - The dancing lesson - 1873/74

It's also important to remember changes suffered by a painting  reproduced on paper,because the print in CMYK impoverishes the colors,sometimes change them,hides details, and the proportions of the painting can be change  for the layout.The following,two example.

Ducros - Nocturnal tempest to Cefalù
Note the missing parts of the painting

Albrecht Dürer - Young hare

In the museum quality reproduction,it is important to respect the original material,the exact shades of colors,the composition and preparation technique.It's necessary to reproduce accurately the details of the original.The realization of a copy of art of this level,takes a long time and a rigorous technique.The drawing must be accurate,veiling,layers of color,etc,all executed with respect for temp drying.
Addition to the common prints,today are very popular  prints retouched by hand  or with photosensitive emulsions.Their prices vary from 10 to 100 euros and more.They are often sold as pictures paintid by hand and it's easy to be dazzled by their appearance.To avoid being deceived,we must keep in mind the prices of common prints of good quality,where,depending of the size,the price can reach up to 700 euros and always ask for the Certificate of Authenticity  signed by the artist.

Paul Gauguin - Two tahitian women seated - 1901

Paul Cézanne -  The kitchen table - about 1888/90

LEGAL NOTES.

It's very important to remember that the Italian law,and not only,prohibits the reproductions of works of living artists.It must be passed 70 years after their death.This means that to copy Picasso,De Chirico,Dali etc,it must have,after congruous paying,written permission of the copyright owners.An example,for Picasso,at this address:

Paul Signac - Venice-the pink cloud -1909

Claude Monet - Water lily pond,harmony rose - 1900 This painting is part of a cycle of about 250 paintings,made in three decades,the paintings portray the garden at Ginervy

Edouard Manet - Vase of peonies on pedestal - 1864

Paul Gauguin - Still life with fan - about 1889

Edouard Manet - The fife -1866

Certificate of Authenticity.

All artwork must be accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity,law 1062 of January 25,1971.According this law,all the authentic works on the market must be accompanied by a picture of them with on the back the declaration of authenticity.
The collector is so certain to purchase a work of genuine art,and not prints retouched by hand or with photosensitive emulsions,as it is now widely in use,from misleading appearance and a vlue seemingly convenient.
In the copy of art the artist must declare that is a copy of art,as mentioned  before.

Example of certificate

Claude Monet - Woman with parasol turned to the left - 1886