A checklist for buying or commissioning artwork
An artwork listing is a starting point for questions about the object, its presentation and the terms of sale. Use the same checklist across pieces you are considering.
Work through the checklist
Record the medium, dimensions and whether the work is an original or a reproduction. Ask how any edition is described and documented.
Check framing, hanging requirements, care instructions and delivery arrangements. Ask to clarify anything the photographs cannot show accurately.
Confirm the final price, return conditions and reproduction rights. For a commission, agree the brief and revision stages before work begins.
A useful question
Does purchasing artwork include copyright?
Do not assume so. Ask for the rights granted in writing; ownership of an object and permission to reproduce it are separate matters.