ArtDiligence
Insights from The ArtRisk Group
The Provenance of Thomas Cole’s “View of Florence”: An Unsolved Mystery
Victoria Sears Goldman, a former provenance researcher at the Cleveland Museum of Art, provides an insight into her work tracing the provenance history of this painting, created in 1837 and owned for many years by the family of novelist Henry James.
Provenance, Paper Trails, and Science: Reflections on the Norval Morrisseau Forgery Rings
Few cases in modern art history have exposed the limits of trust, science, and documentation as starkly as the Norval Morrisseau forgery scandal, even as it followed many familiar patterns. Jane Levine examines what ultimately exposed the deception, how it might have been prevented, and what lessons can be drawn from this complex case of art fraud.
Fraud, Lax Legal Procedures and Regulatory Landmines: Why Risk Advisories Are Booming
The ArtRisk Group was profiled by Anna Brady in The Art Newspaper, and the piece, which includes interviews with Jordan Arnold, Jane Levine, and Jim Wynne, is reproduced here.
Buddhist Gems Repatriated to India Following Legal Claim
“On 7 May 2025, Sotheby’s in Hong Kong was set to auction off the so-called Piprahwa Gems – a collection of nearly 1,800 pearls, rubies, sapphires, and gold which were excavated in the late 1890s from the Piprahwa Stupa, an Indian funerary monument…
Lessons about Third-Party Guarantees from a Christie’s Dispute
“In an unfolding dispute between a prominent collector and Christie’s, a familiar tension in the auction world is once again in view…
After the Theft: Why Camera Upgrades Should Begin with a Risk Assessment
“Following the theft of a $7,000 student sculpture, Toledo School for the Arts (TSA) is expanding its outdoor security system. Thefts of large, monumental artwork in public spaces might seem like impossible crimes to pull off…
Art Market Must Prepare For More AML Scrutiny
“On 23 July 2025, a bipartisan group of senators introduced a bill that would extend the anti-money laundering regulations contained in the Bank Secrecy Act to cover a broad swath of the U.S. art market…
The “Guennol Grasshopper” Sells Despite Provenance Concerns
“On 27 July 2025, a 3,300-year-old carved wooden grasshopper was sold at auction in London for £340,000 ($455,000), despite growing concerns that it was looted from King Tutankhamun’s tomb…
Restituting “Le Chemin des Bois à Ville-d'Avray”: Confronting the Legacy of Nazi-Era Art Sales
“Decades after World War II, the repercussions of Nazi-era art looting continue to unfold…
Meet The ArtRisk Group
Welcome to ArtDiligence – a page where you'll find information about art and cultural heritage, expert commentary, and deeper analysis of recent developments and events by the four founding members of The ArtRisk Group.