A Original Painting By Diego Santanelli

If you have an original painting attributed to Diego Santanelli, the path to accurate appraisal starts with methodical authentication, solid documentation, and a clear understanding of current market behavior for comparable works. This guide walks you through the process step by step, focusing on what collectors, dealers, and appraisal enthusiasts should verify before assigning value.

Understanding the Attribution: What “By Diego Santanelli” Means

An attribution carries implications ranging from “signed and unquestionably by the artist” to “in the manner of,” “circle of,” or “school of.” Before discussing numbers, pin down the strength of authorship:

• Positive authorship: The work is created by Diego Santanelli. Evidence supports this with a signature consistent with documented examples, verifiable provenance, and technical characteristics that align with known practice.
• Attributed to: Expert opinion leans toward Santanelli but lacks full documentation or technical confirmation.
• Studio or follower: Produced by someone working closely with, or inspired by, the artist.
• Manner of/school of: Later work in the style of the artist, not by the artist.

Because not every artist has a comprehensive catalogue raisonné or foundation, your approach should be evidence-led. This means cross-checking signatures and inscriptions, analyzing materials and technique, and building provenance that stands up to scrutiny.

Authentication: Signatures, Materials, and Techniques

Authenticity typically rests on convergence of connoisseurship, material analysis, and document trails. Start with what you can observe directly, then move to scientific testing if needed.

1. Signature and inscriptions

• Placement: Check typical positions (lower right/left). Unexpected placement isn’t disqualifying, but it’s a prompt for deeper comparison.
• Medium and execution: A genuine signature in paint should integrate with the paint layer—same aging, craquelure pattern, and gloss as surrounding passages. Ink or marker over varnish can signal later additions.
• Letterforms and rhythm: Compare letter shape, slant, pressure, and spacing against verified examples (exhibition catalogues, gallery records, past auction results). Look for consistent idiosyncrasies rather than exact replication—perfect uniformity can be suspicious.
• Verso evidence: Look for inscriptions, titles, inventory numbers, or gallery labels on the back. Note languages, spellings, and date formats.

2. Supports and grounds

• Canvas, panel, or paper: Identify the support. Linen vs. cotton, panel type, and paper weight all provide clues. Match these to known materials used by the artist in relevant periods.
• Ground layer: Observe color and texture of the ground (e.g., off-white acrylic gesso vs. traditional oil ground). Consistency with period and practice matters.

3. Pigments and binders

• UV examination: Check for fluorescence patterns that suggest later restorations or overpaint. Varied fluorescence across the signature area versus the surrounding paint can be a red flag.
• IR reflectography (if accessible): Reveals underdrawing or compositional adjustments typical of original creation.
• XRF/FTIR (specialist testing): Compares pigments to those available and used during the artist’s working lifetime. Anachronistic pigments can indicate later work or retouching.

4. Brushwork and layering

• Painterly “hand”: Repetitions of characteristic strokes, edges, and transitions. Many artists show patterns in how they resolve flesh tones, foliage, or sky gradients.
• Layer structure: Original works often have complex stratigraphy—block-in, modeling, glazes—rather than a single, flat layer.

5. Frames and hardware

• Frame period: A frame can be earlier, later, or original. Don’t rely on it for dating the painting, but treat it as a clue. Note framer’s labels or stock numbers.
• Fasteners and stretcher: Screws, nails, keys, and stretcher bar profiles help date alterations or re-stretching.

Document every observation with clear photos and notes; these will be invaluable in appraisal and conservation planning.

Provenance and Paper Trail: Building the Work’s History

Provenance can stabilize attribution and influence value. The key is verifiability and continuity.

• Chain of ownership: List prior owners with acquisition dates. Seek invoices, consignment agreements, or estate inventories. Even partial chains help.
• Exhibition history: Titles, dates, venues, and catalogue numbers. Photographs of the work on display add weight.
• Gallery and dealer labels: Transcribe exactly; photograph the labels on the verso and frame. Cross-reference numbering schemes if possible.
• Restoration records: Past conservation reports reveal condition stability and any significant interventions.
• Correspondence: Emails or letters with the artist, estate, or representing galleries can support authorship but should be corroborated.

Red flags:

• Vague “from a private collection” with no supporting paperwork.
• Certificates of authenticity without issuer identity, date, or contact details.
• Inconsistent titles or dimensions across documents.

If the artist or their estate/foundation is reachable, an opinion letter or archival registration can be decisive. If no formal body exists, assemble a dossier of technical, stylistic, and documentary evidence for an independent appraiser’s review.

Condition, Conservation, and Risk: What Affects Value

Condition can shift value dramatically, particularly for contemporary and modern works where collectors expect stability.

Typical condition factors to assess:

• Structural: Tears, canvas distortions, panel warping, or delamination.
• Paint layer: Abrasion, cupping, unstable craquelure, flaking, or overcleaning.
• Varnish: Yellowing, blanching, or uneven gloss. Note whether varnish is artist-applied.
• Prior restorations: Overpaint, fills, and retouches visible under UV. Quality and extent matter.

Conservation implications:

• Reversible treatments are preferable. Aggressive interventions can reduce value, especially if they alter surface character.
• Obtain a conservator’s written estimate before treatment. Appraisals should state value as-is and, if relevant, potential value post-treatment with clear caveats.

Risk factors and care:

• Environmental control: Stable temperature and relative humidity, limited UV exposure, and appropriate lighting levels protect the work.
• Handling and display: Sturdy hanging hardware, glazing for works on paper, and safe transit packing reduce loss risk (important for insurance underwriting).

Market Context and Valuation: From Comparables to Purpose of Value

An appraisal’s accuracy depends on market-appropriate comparables and the intended use of value.

1. Define the valuation purpose

• Fair market value (FMV): Most appropriate for tax-deductible donations or estate settlements. Typically reflects secondary market behavior.
• Marketable cash value: Reflects a realistic net in a limited-time sale scenario.
• Replacement value (retail): For insurance scheduling; based on the cost to replace with a similar work at retail, including dealer markups.

2. Selecting comparables

• Authorship certainty: Use confirmed works by Diego Santanelli for comparables. If attribution is uncertain, note that and adjust weight.
• Medium, size, and subject: Oil vs. acrylic, canvas vs. panel, portrait vs. landscape. Keep variables aligned for stronger inference.
• Date and period: Align comparables with the work’s estimated period; artists’ markets vary by decade and phase.
• Condition and exhibition history: Works with exhibition pedigree or strong provenance often command premiums.
• Sale venue and date: Dealer retail prices differ from auction hammer prices. Adjust for time—markets shift, so prioritize recent sales when possible.

3. Market analysis

• Price trends: Identify directionality from several sales over time rather than relying on a single result.
• Liquidity: Estimate time to sell in various channels (auction, private sale, gallery consignment). Liquidity affects achievable price.

Document your value conclusion with comp grids (even a simple narrative grid), noting adjustments for differences in size, condition, subject, and timing. Transparency matters: appraisals should be reproducible and defensible.

Presenting the Work for Appraisal: Photos and Data That Help

Well-prepared documentation speeds expert review and reduces uncertainty.

Provide:

• Full front image, evenly lit, with no glare.
• Close-ups of signature, characteristic passages, and any damages.
• Verso images including stretcher, tacking edges, labels, and inscriptions.
• Measurements (sight size, image size, framed size), stated in both inches and centimeters.
• Medium and support details; note if information is inferred or confirmed.
• Ownership history, exhibition lists, and any correspondence.
• Conservation reports and receipts, if any.
• Your questions and goals: authentication, sale, insurance, estate planning, or donation.

If the artist is living or represented, obtain current retail pricing practices. If deceased and no formal estate exists, rely more on secondary market evidence and third-party expert opinions.

Practical Checklist: A Quick Path to Clarity

• Photograph front, verso, signature, and labels in high resolution.
• Record exact dimensions, medium, and support; note framing details.
• Compile provenance: invoices, emails, labels, exhibition mentions.
• Compare signature letterforms and execution to documented examples.
• Examine under UV; note restorations, especially around the signature.
• Assess condition: structural issues, retouching, varnish status.
• Identify 3–6 strong comparables matching medium, size, subject, and period.
• Define valuation purpose (FMV, replacement, marketable cash value).
• Seek a written opinion from a qualified appraiser; request methodology transparency.
• Store and display with stable climate and appropriate lighting; plan for safe transit.

FAQ

Q: How can I tell if the signature “Diego Santanelli” is genuine? A: Compare letterforms, stroke order, and medium integration to verified examples. Look under magnification for paint layer continuity and use UV to check if the signature sits over later varnish. Pair stylistic congruence with provenance for a stronger case.

Q: There is no catalogue raisonné. Can I still authenticate the painting? A: Yes. Build a dossier: high-quality images, material analysis (if needed), provenance documents, and comparative studies of technique and composition. An informed appraiser or expert can render a considered opinion based on converging evidence.

Q: Should I restore before I appraise? A: Generally, no. Obtain an appraisal as-is and a conservator’s treatment proposal. Restoration can improve value in some cases but may not recoup cost or could alter original surfaces. Appraisals can include hypothetical post-treatment values with clear caveats.

Q: What’s the difference between auction value and insurance value? A: Auction estimates reflect likely secondary market outcomes (FMV), whereas insurance value uses retail replacement cost, which is usually higher and accounts for dealer pricing and acquisition time.

Q: How many comparables do I need? A: Three to six close comparables is a practical target. More is welcome if they’re relevant. Prioritize works that match medium, size, subject, period, and authorship certainty, and adjust for condition and sale venue.

By proceeding carefully—verifying authorship, documenting provenance, understanding condition, and aligning comparables with your valuation purpose—you can form a credible appraisal for an original painting attributed to Diego Santanelli. Even when definitive archival resources are limited, disciplined evidence gathering and clear methodology produce reliable, defensible results.