| The art expert is an invaluable figure in the contemporary art world, whose opinions on authenticity can mean the difference between inclusion in a prestigious museum collection and relegation to a trash heap. In today's increasingly market-driven art world, inflated prices only add to the significance of experts' pronouncements. Yet the entities and individuals who possess the requisite expertise to authenticate works of fine art are surprisingly under regulated, as is the case with much of the art business. Little research has addressed this under regulation, or argued for or against increased regulation. This thesis looks at what qualifies one to be an art expert, the tools that experts use in authentication, the catalogue raisonne and its uses as an authentication device, the role of artists' foundations in authentication, and the legal liabilities that are increasingly associated with authentication and art expertise in general. Finally, this thesis discusses regulation of art experts and whether or not that would be of benefit to the contemporary art world. |
