Jilleen Nadolny (Principal Investigator, Art Analysis & Research)
While the tools of connoisseurship and provenance have long underpinned authenticity as defined in the art world, the application of scientific techniques and a scholarly knowledge of the material history of art has played an increasingly important role in the process from the beginning of the 20th century. This talk will explore the methods and protocols used by Art Analysis & Research and the industry in general, and how the provision of material analysis, imaging and interpretation through data analysis to a wide spectrum of clientele influences decision making in the art world. It will also examine the various ways that the "hard evidence" that may be obtained from material examination can be used to support authentication and attribution, as well as the limitations of such methods. Scientific investigation plays an essential role in identifying forgeries, supporting authenticity and quantifying condition. Finally, the specific use of scientific examination within the legal context will be reviewed, including both ways in which this “new" material evidence can facilitate a more secure art market and improved due diligence, supporting trust and litigation.
Speaker Biography:
Dr Jilleen Nadolny is a historian of art technology. She obtained a double MA in art conservation and art history at New York University, before completing a PhD at the Courtauld Institute, London. Subsequently, she accepted a position as Associate Professor at the University of Oslo. Since 2000, she has worked in the role of Principal Investigator at Art Analysis & Research, an international firm, based in London, that conducts material studies of paintings, employing a state of the art laboratory and imaging facilities. The services of AA&R span the art market, museum world and legal sectors. Dr Nadolny has published widely on subjects as diverse as medieval painters' guilds, the history of the application of science for the study of art, the histories of art conservation and art forgery.