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

Restitution and responsible acquisition: the provenance of a work

How to investigate the provenance of an artwork before purchase, which databases to consult and how to act if a problem arises subsequently.

Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- cultural heritage
- provenance
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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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Artificial intelligence and copyright in Europe: what has been decided in 2026

What the 2019 Directive, the AI Act and the European courts say about training AI on protected works, and what remains unresolved.

Verified on 27 September 2026
- art collecting
- generative AI
- digital infrastructure
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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How to work out when a work enters the public domain in Spain, what happens with photographs, anonymous and unpublished works, and what still limits their use.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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Donating a work to a museum: offer, acceptance and tax relief

How to offer a work to a museum, how the decision to accept is made, what to agree upon in writing, how it is valued and what tax relief it provides.

Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- cultural heritage
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