What is the role of a catalog raisonné in attribution and due diligence?

• A. A catalog raisonné is a comprehensive, scholarly listing of an artist's works; it provides authorship, dates, and exhibition history used to verify attribution, provenance, and to flag misattributions.
• B. A casual gallery brochure.
• C. A digital marketing catalog used by auction houses.
• D. A list of donor names.

Answer: (A)

The catalog raisonné is the primary, authoritative record used to confirm what an artist actually created. It is a comprehensive, scholarly listing of an artist’s works, with verified authorship, dates, medium, dimensions, and exhibition or provenance history. Because it is compiled by experts and backed by rigorous sourcing, it becomes the go-to reference for establishing attribution. When a work is examined, researchers consult the catalog raisonné to compare details—such as signature style, materials, techniques, and documented provenance—with the entries in the catalog. If a work isn’t listed or if the documented history doesn’t align, attribution can be questioned or flagged as uncertain or misattributed. In due diligence, this catalog helps collectors, lenders, insurers, and institutions assess authenticity, understand risk, and anchor the work’s value in a vetted scholarly framework that traces its exhibition and sale history. It’s important to remember that a catalog raisonné is highly influential but not infallible; new research and discoveries can update entries, so it should be used in conjunction with other evidence.