Derived from the French word provenir, which means “to come from,” provenance is the chronological record of the ownership of a work of art. The research traces the “biography” of an artwork, the record of ownership, custody, and location of an object, from the time of its creation to the present day. “The provenance includes information about the artwork’s origin, previous owners, exhibitions, sales, and any other significant events or transactions related to its life. An ideal provenance records owners’ names, ownership dates, methods of transference, and the location where the work is kept” (Saint Louis Art Museum). Provenance research, according to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, sheds light on an artwork’s historical, social, and economic context. Art historians have long studied the provenance of objects to enhance scholarly understanding. According to the Art Institute of Chicago, it informs the way in which the museum talks about objects in their exhibitions, gallery labels, and tours. Sharing provenance in these ways enables visitors and researchers to connect with the stories in the collection. Knowledge of the journey of works of art—from who owned it and where it has been—can reveal its purpose, state, function, condition, and its place in the history of taste and collecting. As the Getty Research Institute has pointed out, knowing who owned an artwork allows us a glimpse into that person’s personality and art collection. Also, a strong pedigree confirms the significance of an object and adds depth to its history. Provenance relies on signatures, labels, exhibition records, dealer invoices, and bills of sale. “A thorough provenance not only offers a glimpse into an object’s past, but also serves as a crucial tool for verifying its authenticity and assessing issues of ethical and legal transfer” (Carnegie Museum of Art). Research into the history of an object may uncover gaps in ownership caused by theft and looting in the past.
Why is Provenance Important?
Centuries old objects often have an incomplete provenance, and an unbroken provenance is rare. Certainly, a strong, documented provenance can significantly increase the value of an artwork. Information about the transfer of an object may have been lost, destroyed, not yet uncovered, or never recorded. Museums, galleries, and auction houses also study provenance to rule out unethical or illicit activity. Provenance can prove if an object is authentic, has a legal chain of custody, and helps identify if it was stolen, particularly during the Nazi era (1933-1945). As the Philadelphia Museum of Art makes clear, many artworks were displaced as a result of the Nazi government’s systematic campaign of art looting and through forced sales from Jewish collections. After the war, Allied Forces recovered thousands of these works of art and returned them to their former owners or heirs. When owners could not be located, because they fled or perished in the war or the Holocaust, the Allies returned looted works to the country from which they had been taken. After the war, many artworks came onto the international art market and were purchased in good faith by museums and collectors. Some of these works were later discovered to have been looted from public museums or private collections and not subsequently restituted. The museum has made a particular effort to investigate the World War II-era provenance of the European objects in their collection. Also, “while World War II-era provenance research focuses primarily on determining rightful ownership, investigations also reveal that several works in the collection were legally sold from public museums in Germany in the late 1930s by the Nazi government because they were denounced as ‘degenerate art.’ Although these works were not stolen, their histories highlight the fact that German museums lost many art masterpieces under the cultural policies of the Third Reich” (Philadelphia Museum of Art). At the Museum of Modern Art, researchers study the ownership history of works created before 1946 and acquired after 1932 that were or could have been in Continental Europe during the Nazi era in order to identify any “unlawfully appropriated” works in their collection. The Getty Research Institute started a project to digitize many World War II-era German sales catalogues, which helps museums with research. Apart from legal ownership, knowing a work’s provenance informs the Getty’s research in other ways. “The Nazi regime’s patterns of confiscation show what they valued, and the great value they placed on controlling Europe’s cultural heritage. The displacement of Jewish-owned art also reflects, in a way, the fate of many Jews during this period” (Getty Research Institute). “Modern provenance research is as complex and time-consuming as it is important; it is a dynamic process, akin to detective work” (Carnegie Museum of Art).
How to Read Provenance Citations
According to the Yale University Art Gallery: “Provenance records are referred to as ‘citations.’ Provenance citations for artworks are listed in chronological order, beginning with the earliest recorded owner. Each provenance citation includes, when known, the method of transfer; owner name and life dates (the latter in parentheses); location of ownership; and date of transfer. When full dates are unknown, the citation reflects the first known date of ownership.
Punctuation indicates whether a transfer is direct or indirect: a semicolon indicates that the artwork passed directly between two owners. A period is used to separate two owners when a direct transfer did not occur or is not known to have occurred. Uncertain information is indicated by the words ‘possibly,’ ‘probably,’ ‘reportedly,’ or ‘purportedly.’
Notes are given to clarify uncertainties of reflect context that can assist in the understanding of an object’s transfer. In addition, notes provide documentation in cases where the source of provenance information has not been previously published—whether because it is drawn from an oral history, an archive, or a label on the back or underside of the object. Notes may also be used to indicate where research is ongoing.”
Provenance and Appraisals
An appraisal is not a substitute for provenance, as it does not guarantee authenticity or ownership history. Provenance can, however, play an important role in determining an artwork’s value. An object’s provenance can elevate its market value, enhance its historical significance, and increase buyer confidence. According to Anna Thornton, a Gallery/Research Assistant at the David Barnett Gallery, a strong provenance confers legitimacy on an artwork and therefore increases its value. Well-known previous owners of an object also increase the work’s value. For example, the gallery owns Kees Van Dongen’s Les Artistes du Cirque from 1904 and can trace the painting to Van Dongen’s first one-man exhibition at the Ambrose Vollard Gallery in 1904. It also has a well-documented exhibition history. At times, an interesting story about an object enhances its value. For instance, the gallery has an Andy Warhol Marilyn from 1962 that was part of a four-panel painting hanging in the artist’s studio. Around 1968, Warhol’s nephew, Paul Warhola, to whom Andy owed money, ripped the single Marilyn from the canvas as payment. This is an unforgettable tale, and it contributes to the unique biography of the painting. On the other hand, gaps or uncertainties in provenance can diminish an artwork’s value or cast doubt on its authenticity.
It is important for appraisers to understand the impact provenance has on an object’s value. It is essential for a client to choose an accredited appraiser who is a member of a recognized organization, such as the International Society of Appraisers (ISA), as is David Barnett, owner and director of the David Barnett Gallery. Accreditation ensures that the appraiser adheres to industry standards and ethical guidelines. Appraisers review any documentation available on an object, such as bills of sale, previous appraisals, exhibition records, or provenance information to get a complete picture of an artwork. “Ultimately provenance is far more than a simple list of names and dates. It’s a crucial tool in understanding, authenticating, and valuing art. As the art market becomes increasingly global and complex, the importance of provenance research is only set to grow, ensuring that the stories behind our cultural treasures are preserved for future generations” (Artefact Fine Art).