Keywords
Art History
Painting
A simplification or change in the form of a painting which may occur during the copying process. When the shape or position of a motif is altered or copied incorrectly, it causes inconsistencies within the composition. Furthermore, once an error has been made, the inconsistencies multiply as the copier tries to reorder the composition to compensate for the original alteration. Close attention to such contradictions within a painting composition may be useful in evaluating the authenticity of a painting.