If you’ve been surfing the internet for art reproductions of a favourite painting that you want to have copied, you will have undoubtedly come across different levels of quality; Ranging from paintings that look like a bunch of toddlers have painted them to some mighty impressive looking reproduction oil paintings, that wouldn’t look completely out of a place in a museum. As we get a lot of queries asking about the difference in levels of art reproduction quality, I thought I’d write this post to offer some explanation.
As you can see by looking at this awful painting of Van Gogh’s sunflowers , (which looks nothing like the original that hangs proudly in the National Gallery here in London), there is no quality control in commercial quality art reproductions. They are painted quickly usually in a production line in huge art style factories in China. Commercial quality art reproductions are all about the quantity; usually you need to buy a minimum of at least 10 pieces. Furniture stores etc. usually buy commercial quality art reproduction paintings as they are dirt cheap and they just want something to cover up those bare walls. For this supposed art reproduction of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers shown above, you could easily get it for under $50, although you would really have to be desperate if not blind to hang this on your wall.
Hmm Medium quality art reproduction paintings, as you can see, are a bit of an improvement on commercial replicas but unfortunately not that much better. Medium quality reproductions are painted by amateur artists, detail is lacking and the image is quite sloppily and inaccurately painted. Colours and tones are also different from the original. Again, stay clear.
Art Reproductions that are termed high quality are generally said to be 80% accurate when compared to the original painting. Brushwork and colours are presented well and the composition is accurate. You will notice that not all the details are there though, and the painting does look dull and flat. However these “high quality paintings” will be priced to reflect that they are only 80% accurate.
Museum quality. This is without a doubt the best standard of art reproduction painting. You can’t get any better. Museum quality art reproductions will be painted by the most senior and top painters who have an extremely strong knowledge on art techniques but who are also very creative. I mean, whilst it is impossible to recreate a painting 100% just like the original, museum quality reproductions are the nearest we’re ever going to get to owning an original masterpiece, without spending millions of pounds or robbing a National gallery.
Just to be clear, Fabulous Masterpieces only paint museum quality art reproductions. We’ve actually painted replica oil paintings for museums and for art collectors too. Be careful of art reproduction companies especially American ones that offer paintings at ridiculously low prices. There is a reason for this! In most cases you’ll actually receive a high quality art reproduction as opposed to the museum quality oil painting that you had hoped for.
We’d love to hear from you! If you would like to add something, or ask a question concerning art reproduction please leave a comment.
Bye for now x
Your blog is quite interesting as I, myself, do reproductions of Van Gogh’s work too.
Thanks 🙂
The number four painting is really interesting. It’s all about the Medusa’s evil. It can be sold by the believers of Gods and Goddesses. It looks like real and very impressive.