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.

27 guides

Loaning a work to an exhibition: the loan agreement

What a loan agreement must include, the nature of a facility report, who bears the insurance costs and the implications for private collectors.

Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- cultural heritage
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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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Importing and exporting works of art in Spain: permits and licences

Which artworks require a permit to leave Spain, when a European licence is necessary, and what the 2025 import regulation demands.

Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- cultural heritage
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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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Why a gallery asks you to identify yourself when purchasing an artwork

What obliges galleries and auction houses to identify their clients, what data they may request, and how long they retain it.

Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- art market
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Buying art at auction: estimation, commission, and delivery

Understanding estimates, additional costs beyond the hammer price, VAT application and essential checks before bidding at an art auction.

Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- art market
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Preparing for the succession of an art collection

How to prepare for the inheritance of an art collection: inventory, valuation, inheritance tax, distribution, payment in kind and lifetime gifting.

Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- cultural heritage
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How to care for an art collection at home

The light tolerance of a work, managing humidity, how to hang and store, and what to avoid when cleaning a painting or a work on paper.

Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- cultural heritage
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