A free painting appraisal app is best used as a triage tool. It can help identify whether you have an oil, acrylic, watercolor, decorative painting, print-like object, or a work that may connect to a listed artist.
It should not promise a final value from one photo. Painting value depends on artist attribution, authenticity, medium, size, condition, provenance, subject, and current buyer demand.
What a free painting app can usually identify
- Likely medium, including oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, pastel, or mixed media.
- Signature, monogram, date, title, gallery label, inventory number, or stretcher stamp.
- Surface clues that separate an original painting from a print or reproduction.
- Condition issues such as craquelure, flaking, tears, stains, overpainting, fading, and frame damage.
- Whether the painting deserves a professional appraisal before sale, insurance, or estate decisions.
Quick value checklist before you upload
- Signature: photograph the signature straight-on and close enough to read.
- Medium: include surface texture and side-angle photos to show brushwork or print dots.
- Back: show labels, old writing, stretcher bars, canvas stamps, and framer marks.
- Size: measure the image and the framed work separately.
- Condition: show any tears, paint loss, yellowed varnish, repairs, or water damage.
Recent auction evidence from Appraisily's database
These records are market examples, not a final appraisal for your painting. They show that artist, medium, size, condition, and attribution can move results sharply. A similar-looking painting does not prove the same value.
| Photo | Sale | Date | Lot | Realized | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Clars Auctions | Jan. 23, 2026 | Painting, Mauritz Frederik Hendrick De Haas | $3,250 | Listed-artist attribution can matter more than age or subject alone. |
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Weschler's | Jan. 6, 2026 | Serge Hollerbach, Sleeper on Bench and Three Figures In-Conversation: Two Oil Paintings | $1,000 | Medium, artist record, grouping, and dimensions all affect how comps should be read. |
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Clars Auctions | Jan. 23, 2026 | Painting, Victor de Grailly | $550 | Even named-artist paintings need condition, size, and demand context before valuation. |
When the free screener is enough
Use the free screener when you need a first read on whether the painting is original, whether the signature is worth closer review, or whether the object is more likely decorative than collectible.
When to get a professional painting appraisal
Get a professional appraisal when the painting may be insured, sold, donated, divided in an estate, or tied to a listed artist. Use /art for the art appraisal path, /start when you are ready to upload, or review the professional sample report.
Photo checklist for painting appraisal
- Full front photo in even light, without glare.
- Full back photo, including frame, stretcher, labels, and stamps.
- Close-up of signature, date, title, or inscription.
- Close-up of brushwork, paper, canvas, or board surface.
- Damage photos: tears, flakes, stains, overpaint, water marks, or loose canvas.
- Any receipts, gallery labels, certificates, prior appraisals, or family provenance notes.
We identify the painting, check real sales where available, and tell you whether a free screen or signed appraisal makes sense.
Try the free screenerFAQ
Can a free painting appraisal app give an exact value?
No. It can help identify the work and market clues. Final value depends on authenticity, attribution, condition, size, medium, provenance, and comparable sales.
Can photos show whether a painting is original?
Good photos can show brushwork, surface texture, labels, and print patterns. They may not be enough to prove authenticity or rule out later copies.
Should I clean a painting before appraisal?
No. Cleaning or varnish removal can damage a painting. Photograph it as found and let a reviewer assess condition first.