Hand-painted replicas of existing works of art
Aarthe paints museum-grade replicas of the world's great works, by hand, stroke by stroke, in oil or mixed media. Live with the painting you love, and let the original stay wherever it's safest.
The concept
Great art shouldn't need a great fortune. Own a faithful, hand-painted copy of the work that moves you, at a fraction of what the original would cost, and hang it where you'll see it every day.
Keep the original in a secure, climate-controlled vault, insured, appreciating and untouched, and live with an exceptional replica at home. You enjoy the work without exposing the asset to light, humidity or risk.
The collector's arrangement
The original in the vault.
The painting on your wall.
Your request, your images and the work itself stay confidential. We never publish private commissions.
Our painters study composition, palette, brushwork and craquelure before the first stroke goes down.
Every replica is marked as a reproduction on the reverse. It is a copy, made openly, never a forgery.
The craft
No giclée, no printed underlayer, no shortcuts. Every Aarthe replica is painted entirely by hand by trained painters, using professional pigments on stretched canvas, linen, panel or paper, depending on the original.
The medium follows the work. Oil for oil, and mixed media where the original calls for it. We'll recommend the right approach in your estimate.
Layered glazes and impasto, built up the way the old masters, and the new ones, actually paint.
Acrylic, oil stick, pastel, charcoal and collage, combined to match contemporary work layer by layer.
Gouache, watercolour, ink and drawing, on archival papers chosen to match weight and tone.
Protective varnish, optional ageing, and framing sourced to complement or echo the original frame.
Process
Tell us which work you'd like, the size, and send any images or notes you have.
We study the work and reply personally with a quotation, medium recommendation and timeline.
Your replica is painted by hand. We share progress photographs along the way.
Varnished, optionally framed, crated and shipped with insurance to your door.
Private commission
Tell us which work you have in mind. Every request is read personally, and we'll come back to you with an estimate for your replica.
Thank you
We'll study the work and reply to with your estimate.
Questions
Yes. Painting a copy for private display is an old and respected tradition. Every Aarthe replica is signed on the reverse as a reproduction, with the title, the original artist and our studio mark. We never sign with the original artist's name and never present a copy as an original. For works still protected by copyright, reproduction rights may apply, and we'll discuss this with you before any painting begins.
It depends on size and complexity. Most replicas take between four and ten weeks from approval to delivery. Your estimate will include a timeline.
Choose "Please advise me" if you're unsure. We match the medium of the original whenever we can, so an oil painting is copied in oil and a layered contemporary work in mixed media.
Of course. Choose one of our standard sizes or enter your own dimensions. We'll advise if a size would change the character of the work.
Yes. For collectors we can work from your own high-resolution photography, condition reports, or arrange to study the work in person. Mention it in your comments and we'll take it from there.