Determining whether a painting is truly “a Rubens” most often depends on whether there is evidence that the work has consistently been recognized as such throughout its history.

Unlike many artists, Rubens did not work alone. He oversaw a large and highly skilled workshop capable of executing any commission. Within this studio, specialists painted different elements: some focused on fabrics, others on animals, faces, hands, or landscapes.

Because of this collaborative process, authenticating a Rubens painting is quite different from authenticating the work of an artist who executed everything by hand himself. Style and technique alone cannot provide certainty; the research must extend to provenance, documentation, and historical recognition.

Our Rubens authentications are conducted by a team of experienced art historians and researchers based in Brussels, Amsterdam, London, Madrid, and the United States.