Uncovering the artist's technique through infrared reflectography and chemical analysis.
In 2019, a painting attributed to Claude Monet (1840-1926) was submitted to the Belgian Art Institute for expert assessment and technical analysis. The work was entrusted by its current owner, a Belgian collector with whom the Institute has a long-standing partnership. Given that Impressionist painting constitutes one of the core focuses of the Belgian Art Institute, it was an honor to work with such an exceptional artwork.
The provenance of the painting was confirmed through two independent sources:
– First, a letter from a niece of the Russian emperor, stating that she inherited the painting from Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, son of Emperor Alexander II and President of the Imperial Academy of Arts;
– Second, a notarized declaration from a well-known Russian millionaire, confirming that he acquired the work from the heiress in 1991.