Can radiocarbon dating uncover modern forgeries?

Laura Hendriks, Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics, Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry, ETH Zurich

Questions are often raised regarding attribution and authenticity of works of art. Radiocarbon dating makes it possible to identify when an artwork was created by dating the material used. However the drawback of this technique is the need to take a physical sample. Advances in accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) have reduced the necessary sample size down to microgram amounts of carbon, so that it becomes possible to date individual paint layers in artworks. In this study we discuss two micro-samples taken from an artwork dated 1866: a canvas fibre and a paint chip (< 200 µg), each giving a different radiocarbon result. The canvas dating is consistent with the 19th century, however the 14C age of the paint clearly demonstrates a post-1950 creation. This discrepancy reveals the forger’s strategy of deliberately repainting a recycled older canvas support to give the impression of authenticity. Radiocarbon dating provides a powerful new method to solve technically complex forgery cases using micro-samples.

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