I am building or managing an art collection

For anyone buying, documenting, conserving, lending, selling or transferring artworks who wants to understand their provenance, condition, rights and circulation requirements.

The guides are currently searched and indexed in Spanish.

19 guides

Before buying a work: provenance, condition and documentation

What to check before buying a work: identity, provenance, attribution, condition, restrictions, rights and documentation of the sale.

Verified on 28 September 2026
- art collecting
- art market
- provenance
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Provenance of a work of art: what it is and why it decides its fate

What the provenance of a work of art is, how it is researched, which international instruments apply and which European bodies examine claims.

Verified on 27 September 2026
- art collecting
- art market
- cultural heritage
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When a work enters the public domain in Spain

How to work out when a work enters the public domain in Spain, what happens with photographs, anonymous and unpublished works, and what still limits their use.

Verified on 27 September 2026
- art collecting
- art market
- cultural work
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Resale right: what an artist receives when their work is resold

When an artist is paid for the resale of their work in Spain, how it is calculated in bands, who pays and why this right cannot be waived.

Verified on 27 September 2026
- art collecting
- art market
- cultural work
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Asset of Cultural Interest and export bans: how Spain protects its heritage

What distinguishes the refusal of an export permit, precautionary non-exportability and declaration as an Asset of Cultural Interest, and what obligations the owner takes on.

Verified on 27 September 2026
- art collecting
- art market
- recognition
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How to tell whether an artwork is stolen before you buy it

Una factura, un certificado o la reputación del vendedor no bastan. Qué comprobar antes de comprar una obra: titularidad, procedencia, bases de obras robadas, contrato y señales de alerta.

Verified on 29 October 2026
- art collecting
- art market
- provenance
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How to start an art collection

How to begin an art collection with a modest budget: where to purchase, which documents to retain from the first work and which errors to avoid.

Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- art market
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Insuring a work of art: from home insurance to nail-to-nail coverage

Nail-to-nail insurance, agreed value and actual value, art policy exclusions, home insurance limits and the State Guarantee.

Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- art market
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Authenticity, attribution, and forgery: a guide for collectors

Who may authenticate a work, the weight of committees, catalogues raisonnés and technical analyses, the value of a certificate, and how to proceed when suspicious.

Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- art market
- provenance
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