LONDON.- Everledger, an independent emerging technology enterprise, and The True Image Solution Ltd (TIS), a leading research company on evaluation and restoration of cultural heritage objects, have today announced a collaboration to combine blockchain technology with forensic artwork reporting.

This was announced at the 2nd International Workshop on ‘Analysing Art: New Technologies - New Applications’ held at The State Russian Museum in St Petersburg this week. The venue houses famous masterpieces such as Kazimir Malevich’s Black Square, Ivan Aivazovsk’s The Ninth Wave and Karl Bryullov’s The Last Day of Pompeii.

In a major breakthrough in fine art authentication, Everledger has developed a blockchain-based platform to digitally issue and manage forensic reports from TIS. These forensic reports ascertain the validity and authenticity of artwork using a number of different techniques including digital radiography and infrared photography.

This solves a major challenge in the world of fine art where pieces are assessed for their authenticity every time there is a valuation or transaction, often by experts who have to travel to the artwork. There is currently no trusted ledger to record, or access the data supporting an artwork’s existence or authenticity.

TIS Founder, Professor Roman Maev says, “Our work has always seen us adopt the latest technology and techniques in order to secure the future value of fine art. We are pleased to provide this elevated secured level of authentication for our clients through the use of Everledger’s platform.”

Everledger Founder & CEO, Leanne Kemp states, “Art authentication and providing for scientific certainty has been an intellectually challenging journey with TIS. Our joint efforts spans 18 months in development to ensure the secured integration of forensic technology in the identification of valuable art pieces; whilst securely recording the data for verified authenticity.”

“By applying Everledger’s global and secure approach for tracking the authenticity and certification of art, we are able to contribute to the protection of value in the selected masterpieces and cement trust in forensic reporting.”

Through the integration of TIS’ forensic technology, Everledger’s solution can enable multiple assessments with scientific certainty, against the permanent record of an artwork on its blockchain. This enables more accurate, consistent and efficient assessments, that can also be done remotely.

The data and forensic reports encrypted on the blockchain platform will be provided to recipients who are granted explicit access such as owners, galleries and insurers through a user-friendly application interface.

Some of the most prominent masterpieces analysed by TIS include Rembrandt van Rijn’s Artaxerxes, Haman and Esther (Pushkin State Museum, Moscow, Russia), Palma Vecchio’s Madonna with the Child and Saints (Pushkin State Museum, Moscow, Russia) and William Allan’s The Battle of Waterloo (Apsley House, London UK).