How can you tell an original???

Question

I have a painting. It is framed. The frame looks to be VERY old. The painting is called "Child in white" by Pierre Auguste Renoir. The original was painted in 1883. The frame looks like it could be that old! Is there a way I can tell without taking it to an antique appraiser? Do I have to take it out of the frame to tell? Best answer to the most helpful.

Answer 1

Hi!  Is this it?  If it is, the original is at the

Art Institute of Chicago. If it's different. why

not post the image here. I hope this helps.

Pierre Auguste Renoir (French, 1841-1919)

Lucie Berard (Child in White), 1883

Art Institute of Chicago

Oil on canvas, 24 1/4 x 19 3/4 in. (61.7 x 50.4 cm)

Mr. and Mrs. Martin A. Ryerson Collection, 1933.1172

Gallery 201

http://www.artic.edu/artexplorer/search....

Answer 2

Just because the frame looks old doesn't mean it is.

And just because a painting is in an old frame doesn't mean the painting is old--frames get re-used a lot.

What you have is either a copy of the Renoir (either by a student or someone who made/makes a living by copying famous paintings), or it could be a reproduction printed on canvas, with "brushstrokes" added along with the protective finish coat to make it look like an actual painting (you'd be amazed at how many "paintings" turn out to be reproductions).

The chances that it's a real Renoir are slim-to-nonexistent, especially since there is already one "Child in White" in a museum, and Renoir wasn't in the habit of making copies of his own work.

You could try showing it to an antiques dealer, or even a framer--they would at least be able to tell you if it was worth seeing an appraiser or not.