Instructions
Be wary of Wyeth prints found on Ebay and at small art auctions. Auctions appeal to impulse buying, and often it is difficult or impossible to properly examine a print before placing a bid, especially through grainy photographs on the Internet. Certificates of authenticity cannot always be relied upon unless the auctioneer has a long reputation for selling genuine art prints.
Educate yourself on the finer details of Wyeth's work. Examine authentic prints and learn to recognize his hand signature, as well as what his prints look like on the front, back and sides. Don't be fooled by a name or signature that was not actually signed by the artist's own hand. Every authentic Wyeth print is unique -- like a set of fingerprints -- knowing what to look for when analyzing a print is critical.
Ask the seller to provide you clear, legible photographs of the print when purchasing long-distance. Expect several photos showing all details: a close-up of the artist's signature, several angles of the frame, as well as the front and back of the print. If a seller will not provide these detailed photographs upon request, this should rightly arouse suspicion.
Check with the International Foundation of Art Research if you have suspicions about a particular print. IFAR maintains a stolen art database and publishes alerts of known forgeries. They also offer objective Authentication Research Services on works where the authenticity is in question. IFAR will examine a work for a prospective buyer with the owner's written permission.
Contact the Brandywine River Museum in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. Mary Landa, curator of the Andrew Wyeth Collection, is an authoritative source on Wyeth's work. Her trained, keen eye has spotted Wyeth forgeries in the past.
Hire a reputable art appraiser. Although art appraisers are not licensed, they must follow strict ethical guidelines. Members of the American Society of Appraisers and the Appraisers Association of America must be certified. Their work is peer-reviewed and tested. This guarantees that the appraiser knows proper authentication procedures. However, it does not mean an appraiser will not make a mistake -- even the world's best curators, appraisers and art experts have been fooled by skillful forgeries.
Know the law before you buy. Statutes vary by country and state, so make sure you understand your potential liability if you purchase or sell a fake Wyeth print. Even if you were unaware of the print being a forgery, you may be held financially responsible for the print's return under certain circumstances.