Collector’s guide
How to Buy Art Online Safely
Verify the seller, the exact artwork record, price, condition, provenance, authenticity, payment terms and delivery plan before paying. Ask for written confirmation of everything that materially affects the work.
Match the offer to the actual artwork
Ask for a current image of the work being offered, including the signature, edition marking or reverse where relevant. An installation visualisation helps you imagine scale, but it cannot establish the condition or precise dimensions of the object you will receive. Compare the title, artist, medium and measurements across the listing and written offer.
Agree the complete acquisition before payment
Request a written breakdown of the artwork, framing, delivery and any applicable charges. Confirm who is selling the work, how payment will be made, and which cancellation or return terms apply. If payment instructions change unexpectedly, verify them through a contact channel you have already used with the gallery.
Before you decide
- Current artwork images and condition information
- Written offer identifying the work and everything included
- Confirmed payment recipient, delivery destination and terms