Art Expertise, Scientific Research & Collection Advisory
Independent expertise for Old Master paintings and drawings
At Poncelin de Raucourt Fine Arts, we believe that every important attribution must be earned through evidence rather than assumption.
Our expertise service combines over twenty years of experience in Old Master paintings and drawings with a rigorous scientific methodology, extensive archival research and an in-depth understanding of today's international art market.
Whether you are a private collector, an institution, an art professional or an heir seeking advice, we offer an independent and confidential service designed to establish the strongest possible historical understanding of a work of art.
A Complimentary Initial Assessment
Every enquiry begins with a confidential preliminary review, free of charge.
Based on photographs and the available documentation, we assess whether the work presents genuine research potential and whether a comprehensive investigation is likely to produce meaningful results.
This first opinion enables collectors to decide whether further research is justified before committing to a full scientific study.
Scientific Research Reports
When a work merits further investigation, we prepare a comprehensive scholarly report, generally ranging from 15 to over 50 illustrated pages, depending on the complexity of the case.
Our reports are not written to confirm an attribution. They are designed to test it.
Each investigation follows the same principles used by museum curators and catalogue raisonné committees. Every hypothesis is challenged, every source is verified whenever possible, and conclusions are reached only after alternative explanations have been carefully considered.
Each report may include
- detailed technical and stylistic analysis
- provenance research
- study of inscriptions, collector's marks and archival documents
- iconographic analysis
- comparison with related works in museums and private collections
- exhaustive bibliographical research
- attribution analysis with supporting and opposing arguments
- high-resolution comparative illustrations
- recommendations for further research where appropriate
Every important conclusion is clearly distinguished as either an observable fact, documented evidence or scholarly hypothesis.
A Collaborative Scholarly Network
No single specialist can master every artistic school.
For this reason, we regularly collaborate with an international network of respected art historians, museum curators and independent scholars whose expertise covers highly specialised artists, workshops and periods.
Whenever a project would benefit from additional specialist knowledge, we consult the most qualified experts in the relevant field, ensuring that every investigation benefits from the highest possible level of scholarship.
Archival and Museum Research
Many discoveries cannot be made remotely.
When necessary, our research extends to libraries, museum archives and specialised collections throughout Europe.
This may include consultation of original documentation at institutions such as the Bibliothèque nationale de France, the Département des Arts Graphiques of the Louvre, as well as other museum archives, print rooms and research libraries whenever the investigation requires direct examination of unpublished or difficult-to-access material.
Combining Connoisseurship, Research and Technology
Our methodology combines traditional connoisseurship with modern research tools.
Alongside close visual examination and historical analysis, we make use of the latest digital resources, high-resolution image comparison, online archives and advanced research technologies to investigate provenance, attribution and historical context with the greatest possible precision.
Technology never replaces expertise — it enhances it.
A Commercial Catalogue Entry
Every scientific report is accompanied by a professionally written commercial catalogue entry.
Written to the standards expected by leading galleries and auction houses, this text translates complex scholarly research into a clear, persuasive and accessible presentation suitable for collectors, institutions and the international art market.
From Expertise to the Market
Research is only the beginning.
Once an artwork has been thoroughly documented, we can assist collectors in determining the most appropriate strategy for its sale.
Drawing upon our recognised experience in the international Old Master market, we advise on private sales, introductions to collectors and institutions, or consignments to leading auction houses, selecting the solution best suited to each work and each client's objectives.
Our support may include
- market valuation and positioning
- advice on private sales
- introductions to international auction houses
- liaison with recognised scholars
- conservation and framing recommendations
- professional photography and presentation
- strategic marketing advice
Our objective is not only to establish the historical significance of a work, but also to help collectors maximise its scholarly recognition and market potential.
Complete Confidentiality
Every project is handled with absolute discretion.
Whether the objective is scholarly research, insurance, succession, acquisition or sale, all information entrusted to us remains strictly confidential.
If you would like an independent opinion on a painting or drawing, we invite you to contact us with photographs and any available documentation. We will be pleased to provide an initial assessment without obligation.
Current Requests
We are actively seeking high-quality paintings and drawings for private clients and institutions, particularly works fresh to the market.
Paintings
- Italian & French Baroque paintings, especially Caravaggesque or strongly narrative compositions
- Northern & French schools, 17th–18th century
- Historically important works by women artists
- 19th-century paintings by artists such as Besnard, Cabanel, Breton, Béraud, Boldini, Clairin, Tissot and Bouguereau
- Views of Venice
Drawings
- Italian Renaissance & Mannerist drawings, especially Florentine, Bolognese and Emilian masters
- Northern Renaissance drawings, 15th to early 16th century
- Early Netherlandish drawings
- French & Italian 17th-century drawings
- Studies of artists at work, studio practice, tools or creative gestures
- Drapery studies
- Drawings by women artists, 16th–19th century
- Fine academic and Belle Époque drawings
Submit a work for assessment
Every enquiry begins with a confidential preliminary review, free of charge. Please describe the work and, if possible, attach photographs by email afterwards.