Art authentication from an inverse problems perspective

Abstract

In art authentication and attribution, the overall goal is to confirm whether a particular piece of art P is what it is claimed or thought to be. The claim O is likely to be an original work by a particular artist A. Consequently, the essential modus operandi in art authentication is the collection of information IP about P to compare with the known (and, possibly, yet to be determined) information IO and IA about O and A. The art P is often a painting, which is the current assumption, however, it can be a sculpture or pottery, in fact any artwork or antiquity, and, occasionally, a tapestry or a tablecloth. The connection to inverse problems comes via (a) the collection of the information IP..