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Question: How do I go about finding out more about a painting!?
My parents bought a painting of an old ship years ago at a house sale, We don't know anything about it and would like to find information on who painted it and when!. The only indication as to who painted it is a signature which says Johnson in the corner!. I'm living in Ireland!. Thanks for answers!.Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
You can start to get an idea of age by looking in the back of the painting!. What is the condition of the canvas!? What shape are the nail heads!. Is there writing on the back!. Each of these things are a clue!. Once you have a descriptive for the state of canvas, nails, frame, ect!. you can do individual research and see if the time period starts to come together!.

Next look at the front!. Is there crackling!? What shape is the varnish in!? Has it yellowed!? Is the paint itself crackling!? Have repairs been done!?

What is the subject matter!? This tends to be a major clue to age!. Here is one example: Nature Painting is a school of painting that started in the 1830's in upstate New York and tends to have a large vista of nature with new growth and dead growth!. If there are human figures in the image they are small in scale!.

By taking in the particulars of the subject matter you will have more information gathering tools!.

If it is a portrait what is the hair style, and clothing style and colors!?

I hope my answer has been of some help!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Inspect every inch of the painting!.!.!.!.!.front and back!.

Anything that is written!.!.!.!.!.a date, you already have the name Johnson , anything!.!.write down!.

Then go on Google and post the name and any information you gleaned from the painting!. Include whether it is water colour or oil or acrilic!.

Let Google do the work for you!. Follow any leads they come up with!.

There are many fine painters who do not have fame, so even if you cant find anything out about your painting, it is worth just as much as you believe it to be!. Www@QuestionHome@Com