Monart guides — buying and understanding historical paintings

How a historical painting is valued, who checks what, what an auction purchase costs and what documented resales show.

• Tax Rules When a Private Individual Sells a Painting in France

  A general overview of the French tax routes relevant to a private individual selling a painting. It explains the records, holding period and filing issues that distinguish them.

• Understanding Painting Professionals and Claimed Credentials

  Different professional labels can describe different tasks, evidence and limits. Read the stated scope, check the claimed credential, and separate market information from attribution evidence.

• How to Read Documented Painting Resales

  Repeat auction records can document changes in published prices for the same work. They do not, by themselves, establish an owner’s financial result.

• Beyond the Hammer Price: Total Painting Costs

  A hammer price is only one part of the cost of acquiring a painting at auction. Read the sale conditions, identify every charge, and compare records on the same basis.

• How Historical Paintings Are Assessed Before a Purchase

  A careful assessment separates evidence from assumptions. Completed sales, catalogue wording, condition and provenance each answer different questions and have clear limits.

• Choosing a Historical Painting for a Room

  A historical painting should work in the room as well as hold your attention over time. Consider scale, light, frame, subject and your response separately from records and total cost.