https://simplecast.com Is It? The Art Mystery Podcast Is It? is a brand new podcast on art history’s mysteries. In each episode, we ask the question of whether a certain painting is by a certain famous artist. These are puzzle paintings, works that have divided and confounded scholars, sometimes for centuries. To answer this question, we bring in a guest expert, a specialist in the artist in question. And we also bring in an expert in AI authentication from Art Recognition. While our guest expert is the star of the show, we’ve also conducted a cutting edge, brand new AI analysis of the painting in question—and we’ll reveal what it says in the final part of this episode. The podcast is hosted by award-winning presenter and best-selling art historian, Professor Noah Charney. We cover suspected works by Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Van Eyck and many more. So subscribe and listen for free wherever you get podcasts to find out: Is it? This series is sponsored by Art Recognition, a Zurich-based AI art analysis firm that tests the works featured in each episode. It is produced by Urska Charney. en Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:56:40 +0000 Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:56:53 +0000 https://is-it-the-art-mystery-podcast.simplecast.com Is It? The Art Mystery Podcast https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/f1ec9843-cc45-45af-b29f-053ac6b37f33/6058e14f-d260-4074-9ed2-6c56f40e92ef/3000x3000/is-20it-20series-20logo.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://is-it-the-art-mystery-podcast.simplecast.com episodic Is It? is a brand new podcast on art history’s mysteries. In each episode, we ask the question of whether a certain painting is by a certain famous artist. These are puzzle paintings, works that have divided and confounded scholars, sometimes for centuries. To answer this question, we bring in a guest expert, a specialist in the artist in question. And we also bring in an expert in AI authentication from Art Recognition. While our guest expert is the star of the show, we’ve also conducted a cutting edge, brand new AI analysis of the painting in question—and we’ll reveal what it says in the final part of this episode. The podcast is hosted by award-winning presenter and best-selling art historian, Professor Noah Charney. We cover suspected works by Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Van Eyck and many more. So subscribe and listen for free wherever you get podcasts to find out: Is it? This series is sponsored by Art Recognition, a Zurich-based AI art analysis firm that tests the works featured in each episode. It is produced by Urska Charney. Noah Charney false https://feeds.simplecast.com/WVp91Ydq ai, art history, art recognition, artificial intelligence, attribution, connoisseurship, museums, noah charney, paintings, provenance Noah Charney theartthief@gmail.com 87aca1c7-f0dc-41df-b0a7-e263d3b09426 Is It a Bronzino? with Bruce Edelstein This episode features a portrait of Eleonora de Toledo, the wife of Duke Cosimo de Medici and an impressive woman, indeed. But is this portrait of her by the Medici court painter Bronzino? Or by his pupil and devoted follower Alessandro Allori? To explore who made this painting, we spoke with Bruce Edelstein, a professor and researcher based in Florence who is part of the global network of NYU. He is also a Bronzino specialist and has written a book on Eleonora. We are also joined by Alessandra Conti from Art Recognition who explains the cutting edge AI image analysis and how to interpret the results. So...it is a Bronzino? Or an Allori? Tune in to find out!

 

To learn more about Bruce and his work, click here.

To learn more about Art Recognition, click here.

]]> Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:56:40 +0000 theartthief@gmail.com (Noah Charney, bruce edelstein, alessandra conti) https://is-it-the-art-mystery-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/is-it-a-bronzino-W9US8YSb This episode features a portrait of Eleonora de Toledo, the wife of Duke Cosimo de Medici and an impressive woman, indeed. But is this portrait of her by the Medici court painter Bronzino? Or by his pupil and devoted follower Alessandro Allori? To explore who made this painting, we spoke with Bruce Edelstein, a professor and researcher based in Florence who is part of the global network of NYU. He is also a Bronzino specialist and has written a book on Eleonora. We are also joined by Alessandra Conti from Art Recognition who explains the cutting edge AI image analysis and how to interpret the results. So...it is a Bronzino? Or an Allori? Tune in to find out!

 

To learn more about Bruce and his work, click here.

To learn more about Art Recognition, click here.

]]> Is It a Bronzino? with Bruce Edelstein Noah Charney, bruce edelstein, alessandra conti 00:40:11 This episode features a portrait of Eleonora de Toledo, the wife of Duke Cosimo de Medici and an impressive woman, indeed. But is this portrait of her by the Medici court painter Bronzino? Or by his pupil and devoted follower Alessandro Allori? To explore who made this painting, we spoke with Bruce Edelstein, a professor and researcher based in Florence who is part of the global network of NYU. He is also a Bronzino specialist and has written a book on Eleonora. We are also joined by Alessandra Conti from Art Recognition who explains the cutting edge AI image analysis and how to interpret the results. So...it is a Bronzino? Or an Allori? Tune in to find out! This episode features a portrait of Eleonora de Toledo, the wife of Duke Cosimo de Medici and an impressive woman, indeed. But is this portrait of her by the Medici court painter Bronzino? Or by his pupil and devoted follower Alessandro Allori? To explore who made this painting, we spoke with Bruce Edelstein, a professor and researcher based in Florence who is part of the global network of NYU. He is also a Bronzino specialist and has written a book on Eleonora. We are also joined by Alessandra Conti from Art Recognition who explains the cutting edge AI image analysis and how to interpret the results. So...it is a Bronzino? Or an Allori? Tune in to find out! allori, art recognition, ai authentication, bronzino, historical mysteries, ai, eleonora di toledo, medici false full 11 a7119e62-72a3-4baf-8596-486e453d2d40 Can AI Solve an Art Theft? Interview with Steve Berry on the Ghent Altarpiece In this special episode, we chat with Steve Berry. Steve is the mega bestselling author of thoughtful art and artefact treasure hunt thrillers. He has sold over 26 million books and counting, selling an average of a book every thirty seconds. His thrillers are deeply researched and include a note from the author section clarifying what has been changed to suit the plot, so that the reader will be clear on what is fact and where the fiction begins. Noah was Steve's expert consultant for the novel "The Omega Factor," which features Jan van Eyck's "Ghent Altarpiece." For this episode, Art Recognition tested the famous Judges panel from the altarpiece, which was stolen in 1934 and never recovered. Or was it? A conservator in the 1970s theorized that the replacement panel, painted by infamous restorer (and art forger) Jef van der Veken might actually be the stolen panel, painted over to surreptitiously return it to the cathedral of St Bavo from which it was stolen. Art Recognition's AI image analysis will determine whether this was the case, or if the missing panel is still out there. Along the way Steve and Noah chat about writing, research, van Eyck...and Noah introduces Steve to AI image analysis.

 

To learn more about Steve Berry and his books, click here: https://steveberry.org

To learn more about Art Recognition, click here: https://art-recognition.com

To learn more about "The Ghent Altarpiece" consider reading Noah's book, "Stealing the Mystic Lamb: The True Story of the World's Most Coveted Masterpiece."

]]> Sat, 28 Feb 2026 10:36:51 +0000 theartthief@gmail.com (Noah Charney, steve berry) https://is-it-the-art-mystery-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/interview-with-steve-berry-HeGeodZ4 In this special episode, we chat with Steve Berry. Steve is the mega bestselling author of thoughtful art and artefact treasure hunt thrillers. He has sold over 26 million books and counting, selling an average of a book every thirty seconds. His thrillers are deeply researched and include a note from the author section clarifying what has been changed to suit the plot, so that the reader will be clear on what is fact and where the fiction begins. Noah was Steve's expert consultant for the novel "The Omega Factor," which features Jan van Eyck's "Ghent Altarpiece." For this episode, Art Recognition tested the famous Judges panel from the altarpiece, which was stolen in 1934 and never recovered. Or was it? A conservator in the 1970s theorized that the replacement panel, painted by infamous restorer (and art forger) Jef van der Veken might actually be the stolen panel, painted over to surreptitiously return it to the cathedral of St Bavo from which it was stolen. Art Recognition's AI image analysis will determine whether this was the case, or if the missing panel is still out there. Along the way Steve and Noah chat about writing, research, van Eyck...and Noah introduces Steve to AI image analysis.

 

To learn more about Steve Berry and his books, click here: https://steveberry.org

To learn more about Art Recognition, click here: https://art-recognition.com

To learn more about "The Ghent Altarpiece" consider reading Noah's book, "Stealing the Mystic Lamb: The True Story of the World's Most Coveted Masterpiece."

]]> Can AI Solve an Art Theft? Interview with Steve Berry on the Ghent Altarpiece Noah Charney, steve berry 00:35:51 In this special episode, we chat with Steve Berry. Steve is the mega bestselling author of thoughtful art and artefact treasure hunt thrillers. He has sold over 26 million books and counting, selling an average of a book every thirty seconds. His thrillers are deeply researched and include a note from the author section clarifying what has been changed to suit the plot, so that the reader will be clear on what is fact and where the fiction begins. Noah was Steve's expert consultant for the novel "The Omega Factor," which features Jan van Eyck's "Ghent Altarpiece." For this episode, Art Recognition tested the famous Judges panel from the altarpiece, which was stolen in 1934 and never recovered. Or was it? A conservator in the 1970s theorized that the replacement panel, painted by infamous restorer (and art forger) Jef van der Veken might actually be the stolen panel, painted over to surreptitiously return it to the cathedral of St Bavo from which it was stolen. Art Recognition's AI image analysis will determine whether this was the case, or if the missing panel is still out there. Along the way Steve and Noah chat about writing, research, van Eyck...and Noah introduces Steve to AI image analysis. In this special episode, we chat with Steve Berry. Steve is the mega bestselling author of thoughtful art and artefact treasure hunt thrillers. He has sold over 26 million books and counting, selling an average of a book every thirty seconds. His thrillers are deeply researched and include a note from the author section clarifying what has been changed to suit the plot, so that the reader will be clear on what is fact and where the fiction begins. Noah was Steve's expert consultant for the novel "The Omega Factor," which features Jan van Eyck's "Ghent Altarpiece." For this episode, Art Recognition tested the famous Judges panel from the altarpiece, which was stolen in 1934 and never recovered. Or was it? A conservator in the 1970s theorized that the replacement panel, painted by infamous restorer (and art forger) Jef van der Veken might actually be the stolen panel, painted over to surreptitiously return it to the cathedral of St Bavo from which it was stolen. Art Recognition's AI image analysis will determine whether this was the case, or if the missing panel is still out there. Along the way Steve and Noah chat about writing, research, van Eyck...and Noah introduces Steve to AI image analysis. saint bavo, the omega factor, gent, art recognition, steve berry, judges panel, mystic lamb, noah charney, ghent, cotton malone, ghent altarpiece, st bavo false full 10 6b031a44-b677-42b9-9cab-7e626089de6b Is It a Said? with Jehane Ragai In this episode, we’re turning our attention to the work of Mahmoud Sa'id, one of the most important and influential figures in modern Egyptian art. Trained in Europe yet deeply rooted in Egyptian culture, Sa’id created a body of work that blends academic technique with a distinctly local vision. His paintings occupy a central place in the history of twentieth-century Egyptian modernism—and they also raise important questions about attribution, variation, and legacy.

 

To discuss a painting that she selected for AI image analysis, I’m joined by Jehane Ragai, emeritus professor of chemistry at the American University in Cairo. Professor Ragai is a pioneer in the scientific analysis of artworks, with decades of experience applying chemistry and materials science to questions of attribution, authenticity, and conservation. Her work has been especially influential in the study of modern Egyptian painting, where scientific evidence can play a crucial role in clarifying complex art-historical and market questions. She’s the author of two excellent books that are sitting on my shelf: "The Scientist and the Forger" and "Technical Art History."

 

I’m also joined by Batu Arda Düzgün, AI Developer at Art Recognition, where he works at the intersection of machine learning, visual analysis, and art authentication. Batu develops systems that analyze artistic patterns at a level of scale and precision impossible for the human eye alone, offering new tools for understanding authorship, consistency, and deviation within an artist’s oeuvre.

 

Let's ask the question: Is it a Sa'id?

]]> Sat, 31 Jan 2026 12:13:45 +0000 theartthief@gmail.com (jehane ragai, Batu Arda Düzgün, Noah Charney) https://is-it-the-art-mystery-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/is-it-a-said-0RmD34WF In this episode, we’re turning our attention to the work of Mahmoud Sa'id, one of the most important and influential figures in modern Egyptian art. Trained in Europe yet deeply rooted in Egyptian culture, Sa’id created a body of work that blends academic technique with a distinctly local vision. His paintings occupy a central place in the history of twentieth-century Egyptian modernism—and they also raise important questions about attribution, variation, and legacy.

 

To discuss a painting that she selected for AI image analysis, I’m joined by Jehane Ragai, emeritus professor of chemistry at the American University in Cairo. Professor Ragai is a pioneer in the scientific analysis of artworks, with decades of experience applying chemistry and materials science to questions of attribution, authenticity, and conservation. Her work has been especially influential in the study of modern Egyptian painting, where scientific evidence can play a crucial role in clarifying complex art-historical and market questions. She’s the author of two excellent books that are sitting on my shelf: "The Scientist and the Forger" and "Technical Art History."

 

I’m also joined by Batu Arda Düzgün, AI Developer at Art Recognition, where he works at the intersection of machine learning, visual analysis, and art authentication. Batu develops systems that analyze artistic patterns at a level of scale and precision impossible for the human eye alone, offering new tools for understanding authorship, consistency, and deviation within an artist’s oeuvre.

 

Let's ask the question: Is it a Sa'id?

]]> Is It a Said? with Jehane Ragai jehane ragai, Batu Arda Düzgün, Noah Charney 00:33:26 In this episode, we’re turning our attention to the work of Mahmoud Sa'id, one of the most important and influential figures in modern Egyptian art. Trained in Europe yet deeply rooted in Egyptian culture, Sa’id created a body of work that blends academic technique with a distinctly local vision. His paintings occupy a central place in the history of twentieth-century Egyptian modernism—and they also raise important questions about attribution, variation, and legacy. To discuss a painting that she selected for AI image analysis, I’m joined by Jehane Ragai, emeritus professor of chemistry at the American University in Cairo. Professor Ragai is a pioneer in the scientific analysis of artworks, with decades of experience applying chemistry and materials science to questions of attribution, authenticity, and conservation. Her work has been especially influential in the study of modern Egyptian painting, where scientific evidence can play a crucial role in clarifying complex art-historical and market questions. She’s the author of two excellent books that are sitting on my shelf: "The Scientist and the Forger" and "Technical Art History." I’m also joined by Batu Arda Düzgün, AI Developer at Art Recognition, where he works at the intersection of machine learning, visual analysis, and art authentication. Batu develops systems that analyze artistic patterns at a level of scale and precision impossible for the human eye alone, offering new tools for understanding authorship, consistency, and deviation within an artist’s oeuvre. Let's ask the question: Is it a Sa'id? In this episode, we’re turning our attention to the work of Mahmoud Sa'id, one of the most important and influential figures in modern Egyptian art. Trained in Europe yet deeply rooted in Egyptian culture, Sa’id created a body of work that blends academic technique with a distinctly local vision. His paintings occupy a central place in the history of twentieth-century Egyptian modernism—and they also raise important questions about attribution, variation, and legacy. To discuss a painting that she selected for AI image analysis, I’m joined by Jehane Ragai, emeritus professor of chemistry at the American University in Cairo. Professor Ragai is a pioneer in the scientific analysis of artworks, with decades of experience applying chemistry and materials science to questions of attribution, authenticity, and conservation. Her work has been especially influential in the study of modern Egyptian painting, where scientific evidence can play a crucial role in clarifying complex art-historical and market questions. She’s the author of two excellent books that are sitting on my shelf: "The Scientist and the Forger" and "Technical Art History." I’m also joined by Batu Arda Düzgün, AI Developer at Art Recognition, where he works at the intersection of machine learning, visual analysis, and art authentication. Batu develops systems that analyze artistic patterns at a level of scale and precision impossible for the human eye alone, offering new tools for understanding authorship, consistency, and deviation within an artist’s oeuvre. Let's ask the question: Is it a Sa'id? mahmoud said, egyptian art, art, mahmoud sa'id, art history, art recognition, artificial intelligence, ai false full 9 64a59e62-6564-42ac-9921-d4a77bdaa130 Is It a Van Eyck? with Till-Holger Borchert This episode of Is It? the art mystery podcasts looks at a small painting at the Philadelphia Museum of Art which is largely attributed to Jan van Eyck: "Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata." But is it actually by van Eyck? To discuss this and the results of the cutting-edge AI image analysis by Art Recognition, I'll speak with Till-Holger Borchert, director of the Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum in Aachen, and an authority on van Eyck. 

To see the painting in question, displayed at the Philadelphia Museum of Art click here.

To see the other version of the painting, displayed at the Sabauda Gallery in Turin, click here.

To learn more about Till-Holger Borchert, click here.

To learn more about Art Recognition, click here.

]]> Wed, 31 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0000 theartthief@gmail.com (art recognition, till-holger borchert, Noah Charney) https://is-it-the-art-mystery-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/is-it-a-van-eyck-etf2lGr3 This episode of Is It? the art mystery podcasts looks at a small painting at the Philadelphia Museum of Art which is largely attributed to Jan van Eyck: "Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata." But is it actually by van Eyck? To discuss this and the results of the cutting-edge AI image analysis by Art Recognition, I'll speak with Till-Holger Borchert, director of the Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum in Aachen, and an authority on van Eyck. 

To see the painting in question, displayed at the Philadelphia Museum of Art click here.

To see the other version of the painting, displayed at the Sabauda Gallery in Turin, click here.

To learn more about Till-Holger Borchert, click here.

To learn more about Art Recognition, click here.

]]> Is It a Van Eyck? with Till-Holger Borchert art recognition, till-holger borchert, Noah Charney 00:43:15 This episode of Is It? the art mystery podcasts looks at a small painting at the Philadelphia Museum of Art which is largely attributed to Jan van Eyck: "Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata." But is it actually by van Eyck? To discuss this and the results of the cutting-edge AI image analysis by Art Recognition, I'll speak with Till-Holger Borchert, director of the Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum in Aachen, and an authority on van Eyck. This episode of Is It? the art mystery podcasts looks at a small painting at the Philadelphia Museum of Art which is largely attributed to Jan van Eyck: "Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata." But is it actually by van Eyck? To discuss this and the results of the cutting-edge AI image analysis by Art Recognition, I'll speak with Till-Holger Borchert, director of the Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum in Aachen, and an authority on van Eyck. saint francis, art history, jan van eyck, art recognition, historical mysteries, philadelphia museum of art, van eyck, history of art, st francis, till-holger borchert false full 8 c29a43a1-1daa-41b8-8f41-b62ceea38a45 Is It Responsible? Guidelines for the Use of AI for Art Authentication This episode is about the Guidelines on the Ethical Use of AI for Image Analysis in Art Authentication. AI is everywhere, but that means that the term is being used with sometimes reckless abandon. For any serious field—like art attribution—it’s important to lay out recommendations for how best, most transparently, and most effectively to use AI.

 

These guidelines were developed jointly by Art Recognition and the Center for Art Law (with a little help from me), and they offer a framework for how artificial intelligence can be used responsibly, transparently, and collaboratively in the authentication of artworks. To discuss the guidelines, I’ve invited Carina Popovici, co-founder of Art Recognition and a past guest on this podcast, and Irina Tarsis, the founder of the Center for Art Law. The three of us were the main drivers of these guidelines, with significant feedback and input from a variety of others, many lawyers working with the Center for Art Law.

 

See the Guidelines themselves by visiting https://art-recognition.com/ or https://itsartlaw.org/ or direct download here.

]]> Sun, 30 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000 theartthief@gmail.com (irina tarsis, centre for art law, Noah Charney, carina popovici) https://is-it-the-art-mystery-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/is-it-responsible-dyd9Il_I This episode is about the Guidelines on the Ethical Use of AI for Image Analysis in Art Authentication. AI is everywhere, but that means that the term is being used with sometimes reckless abandon. For any serious field—like art attribution—it’s important to lay out recommendations for how best, most transparently, and most effectively to use AI.

 

These guidelines were developed jointly by Art Recognition and the Center for Art Law (with a little help from me), and they offer a framework for how artificial intelligence can be used responsibly, transparently, and collaboratively in the authentication of artworks. To discuss the guidelines, I’ve invited Carina Popovici, co-founder of Art Recognition and a past guest on this podcast, and Irina Tarsis, the founder of the Center for Art Law. The three of us were the main drivers of these guidelines, with significant feedback and input from a variety of others, many lawyers working with the Center for Art Law.

 

See the Guidelines themselves by visiting https://art-recognition.com/ or https://itsartlaw.org/ or direct download here.

]]> Is It Responsible? Guidelines for the Use of AI for Art Authentication irina tarsis, centre for art law, Noah Charney, carina popovici 00:36:25 This episode is about the Guidelines on the Ethical Use of AI for Image Analysis in Art Authentication. AI is everywhere, but that means that the term is being used with sometimes reckless abandon. For any serious field—like art attribution—it’s important to lay out recommendations for how best, most transparently, and most effectively to use AI. These guidelines were developed jointly by Art Recognition and the Center for Art Law (with a little help from me), and they offer a framework for how artificial intelligence can be used responsibly, transparently, and collaboratively in the authentication of artworks. To discuss the guidelines, I’ve invited Carina Popovici, co-founder of Art Recognition and a past guest on this podcast, and Irina Tarsis, the founder of the Center for Art Law. The three of us were the main drivers of these guidelines, with significant feedback and input from a variety of others, many lawyers working with the Center for Art Law. This episode is about the Guidelines on the Ethical Use of AI for Image Analysis in Art Authentication. AI is everywhere, but that means that the term is being used with sometimes reckless abandon. For any serious field—like art attribution—it’s important to lay out recommendations for how best, most transparently, and most effectively to use AI. These guidelines were developed jointly by Art Recognition and the Center for Art Law (with a little help from me), and they offer a framework for how artificial intelligence can be used responsibly, transparently, and collaboratively in the authentication of artworks. To discuss the guidelines, I’ve invited Carina Popovici, co-founder of Art Recognition and a past guest on this podcast, and Irina Tarsis, the founder of the Center for Art Law. The three of us were the main drivers of these guidelines, with significant feedback and input from a variety of others, many lawyers working with the Center for Art Law. centre for art law, art recognition, artificial intelligence, framework for responsible use of ai, responsible use of ai, ai, responsible ai false full 7 1d37bcf7-422b-47d9-b10b-10391fa361fc Is It a De La Tour? with Veronique Plesch Today’s mystery centers on a painter of light and silence—Georges de La Tour. His candlelit saints and beggars are hauntingly still, so perfect in their quiet intensity that they almost seem modern. But as with many great artists, the line between what’s real, what’s a copy, and what’s an outright forgery can get blurry. To help us untangle this mystery, I’m joined once again by Carina Popovici, co-founder and CEO of Art Recognition, the Swiss company using artificial intelligence to authenticate artworks. And with us for the first time, my own former professor at Colby College, art historian Veronique Plesch. Together, we’re going to test a painting that just might be by one of France’s most enigmatic masters.

 

]]> Fri, 31 Oct 2025 15:44:24 +0000 theartthief@gmail.com (Veronique Plesch, Noah Charney, carina popovici) https://is-it-the-art-mystery-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/is-it-a-de-la-tour-jMpmlwo4 Today’s mystery centers on a painter of light and silence—Georges de La Tour. His candlelit saints and beggars are hauntingly still, so perfect in their quiet intensity that they almost seem modern. But as with many great artists, the line between what’s real, what’s a copy, and what’s an outright forgery can get blurry. To help us untangle this mystery, I’m joined once again by Carina Popovici, co-founder and CEO of Art Recognition, the Swiss company using artificial intelligence to authenticate artworks. And with us for the first time, my own former professor at Colby College, art historian Veronique Plesch. Together, we’re going to test a painting that just might be by one of France’s most enigmatic masters.

 

]]> Is It a De La Tour? with Veronique Plesch Veronique Plesch, Noah Charney, carina popovici 00:46:14 This month's mystery centers on a painter of light and silence—Georges de La Tour. His candlelit saints and beggars are hauntingly still, so perfect in their quiet intensity that they almost seem modern. But as with many great artists, the line between what’s real, what’s a copy, and what’s an outright forgery can get blurry. To help us untangle this mystery, I’m joined once again by Carina Popovici, co-founder and CEO of Art Recognition, the Swiss company using artificial intelligence to authenticate artworks. And with us for the first time, my own former professor at Colby College, art historian Veronique Plesch. Together, we’re going to test a painting that just might be by one of France’s most enigmatic masters. This month's mystery centers on a painter of light and silence—Georges de La Tour. His candlelit saints and beggars are hauntingly still, so perfect in their quiet intensity that they almost seem modern. But as with many great artists, the line between what’s real, what’s a copy, and what’s an outright forgery can get blurry. To help us untangle this mystery, I’m joined once again by Carina Popovici, co-founder and CEO of Art Recognition, the Swiss company using artificial intelligence to authenticate artworks. And with us for the first time, my own former professor at Colby College, art historian Veronique Plesch. Together, we’re going to test a painting that just might be by one of France’s most enigmatic masters. de la tour, art, colby college, art history, art recognition, histoire de l'art, artificial intelligence, history of art, storia dell'arte, ai, georges de la tour false full 6 c6d5698e-2e5d-48b5-a78a-70494a23cc26 Is It a Velazquez? with Matthew Wilson Today’s featured picture is called Portrait of a Man. It certainly looks like a Velazquez. But you know what question I’m going to ask. Is it?

 

To answer this question, I've invited two guests. First, Batu Arda Düzgün, originally from Turkey, is a researcher at Art Recognition, a company that uses artificial intelligence to help authenticate artworks. With a background that spans both computer science and art history, Arda is at the forefront of applying cutting-edge machine learning to some of the oldest and most mysterious paintings in the world.

 

Joining him is British art historian Matthew Wilson, an expert on visual symbolism and the author of several widely-read books, including Symbols in Art, The Hidden Language of Symbols, and Art Unpacked, all published by Thames & Hudson. Matthew’s work uncovers the layers of meaning behind what we see, offering insight into the codes, allegories, and visual metaphors that artists have used across centuries. Arda’s work likewise uncovers layers of meaning but in the form of complex image analysis and the use of AI. What do they have to say about the artwork featured in today’s episode? Listen to find out.

]]> Tue, 30 Sep 2025 14:47:15 +0000 theartthief@gmail.com (matthew wilson, Batu Arda Düzgün, Noah Charney) https://is-it-the-art-mystery-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/is-it-a-velazquez-_QSSKYVy Today’s featured picture is called Portrait of a Man. It certainly looks like a Velazquez. But you know what question I’m going to ask. Is it?

 

To answer this question, I've invited two guests. First, Batu Arda Düzgün, originally from Turkey, is a researcher at Art Recognition, a company that uses artificial intelligence to help authenticate artworks. With a background that spans both computer science and art history, Arda is at the forefront of applying cutting-edge machine learning to some of the oldest and most mysterious paintings in the world.

 

Joining him is British art historian Matthew Wilson, an expert on visual symbolism and the author of several widely-read books, including Symbols in Art, The Hidden Language of Symbols, and Art Unpacked, all published by Thames & Hudson. Matthew’s work uncovers the layers of meaning behind what we see, offering insight into the codes, allegories, and visual metaphors that artists have used across centuries. Arda’s work likewise uncovers layers of meaning but in the form of complex image analysis and the use of AI. What do they have to say about the artwork featured in today’s episode? Listen to find out.

]]> Is It a Velazquez? with Matthew Wilson matthew wilson, Batu Arda Düzgün, Noah Charney 00:38:26 Today’s featured picture is called Portrait of a Man. It certainly looks like a Velazquez. But you know what question I’m going to ask. Is it? To answer this question, I've invited two guests. First, Batu Arda Düzgün, originally from Turkey, is a researcher at Art Recognition, a company that uses artificial intelligence to help authenticate artworks. With a background that spans both computer science and art history, Arda is at the forefront of applying cutting-edge machine learning to some of the oldest and most mysterious paintings in the world. Joining him is British art historian Matthew Wilson, an expert on visual symbolism and the author of several widely-read books, including Symbols in Art, The Hidden Language of Symbols, and Art Unpacked, all published by Thames & Hudson. Matthew’s work uncovers the layers of meaning behind what we see, offering insight into the codes, allegories, and visual metaphors that artists have used across centuries. Arda’s work likewise uncovers layers of meaning but in the form of complex image analysis and the use of AI. What do they have to say about the artwork featured in today’s episode? Listen to find out. Today’s featured picture is called Portrait of a Man. It certainly looks like a Velazquez. But you know what question I’m going to ask. Is it? To answer this question, I've invited two guests. First, Batu Arda Düzgün, originally from Turkey, is a researcher at Art Recognition, a company that uses artificial intelligence to help authenticate artworks. With a background that spans both computer science and art history, Arda is at the forefront of applying cutting-edge machine learning to some of the oldest and most mysterious paintings in the world. Joining him is British art historian Matthew Wilson, an expert on visual symbolism and the author of several widely-read books, including Symbols in Art, The Hidden Language of Symbols, and Art Unpacked, all published by Thames & Hudson. Matthew’s work uncovers the layers of meaning behind what we see, offering insight into the codes, allegories, and visual metaphors that artists have used across centuries. Arda’s work likewise uncovers layers of meaning but in the form of complex image analysis and the use of AI. What do they have to say about the artwork featured in today’s episode? Listen to find out. velazquez, attribution, spanish golden age, authentication, art history, art recognition, diego velazquez, artificial intelligence, connoisseurship, matthew wilson, history of art, ai false full 5 12dc33fa-503c-4aea-b296-724fe46a9f53 Is It a Caravaggio? with Clovis Whiftield **Featured in The Guardian**

Caravaggio lived a violent fist of a life, but man could he paint. He is one of a handful of true revolutionaries, creating a style that was unlike anything that had come before, and was hugely influential. But he only made some 60 paintings, depending on which scholar you ask, so each is incredibly valuable. And not one has come up for auction in the last century or so. Today’s episode reveals some big surprises regarding three known versions of a painting called The Lute Player. But are all three by Caravaggio? Let’s find out in this special episode where I’m joined by British gallerist Clovis Whitfield and Art Recognition co-founder, Carina Popovici.

This episode was featured in The Guardian newspaper on 27 September 2025

To learn more about Clovis Whitfield, visit: http://www.whitfieldfineart.com/

]]> Sat, 27 Sep 2025 05:30:00 +0000 theartthief@gmail.com (clovis whitfield, carina popovici, Noah Charney) https://is-it-the-art-mystery-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/is-it-a-caravaggio-OX9nrb_8 **Featured in The Guardian**

Caravaggio lived a violent fist of a life, but man could he paint. He is one of a handful of true revolutionaries, creating a style that was unlike anything that had come before, and was hugely influential. But he only made some 60 paintings, depending on which scholar you ask, so each is incredibly valuable. And not one has come up for auction in the last century or so. Today’s episode reveals some big surprises regarding three known versions of a painting called The Lute Player. But are all three by Caravaggio? Let’s find out in this special episode where I’m joined by British gallerist Clovis Whitfield and Art Recognition co-founder, Carina Popovici.

This episode was featured in The Guardian newspaper on 27 September 2025

To learn more about Clovis Whitfield, visit: http://www.whitfieldfineart.com/

]]> Is It a Caravaggio? with Clovis Whiftield clovis whitfield, carina popovici, Noah Charney 00:35:16 **Featured in The Guardian** Caravaggio lived a violent fist of a life, but man could he paint. He is one of a handful of true revolutionaries, creating a style that was unlike anything that had come before, and was hugely influential. But he only made some 60 paintings, depending on which scholar you ask, so each is incredibly valuable. And not one has come up for auction in the last century or so. Today’s episode reveals some big surprises regarding three known versions of a painting called The Lute Player. But are all three by Caravaggio? Let’s find out in this special episode where I’m joined by British gallerist Clovis Whitfield and Art Recognition co-founder, Carina Popovici. **Featured in The Guardian** Caravaggio lived a violent fist of a life, but man could he paint. He is one of a handful of true revolutionaries, creating a style that was unlike anything that had come before, and was hugely influential. But he only made some 60 paintings, depending on which scholar you ask, so each is incredibly valuable. And not one has come up for auction in the last century or so. Today’s episode reveals some big surprises regarding three known versions of a painting called The Lute Player. But are all three by Caravaggio? Let’s find out in this special episode where I’m joined by British gallerist Clovis Whitfield and Art Recognition co-founder, Carina Popovici. clovis whitfield, attribution, authentication, the lute player, art history, cardinal del monte, provenance, art recognition, histoire de l'art, connoisseurship, badminton lute player, caravaggio, noah charney, carina popovici, history of art, storia dell'arte false full 4 7abb54a3-c7a6-43b7-8e14-b915c2b4546f Interview with AI Expert Carina Popovici Most episodes of this podcast will feature a special guest art expert who chooses a painting that they’d like to have analyzed—a painting with uncertain or debated authorship. We are joined by, an AI specialist who reveals the test results and we discuss them together. But here and there we’ll include an interview that is relevant to the topic of art authentication, art historical mysteries, and technologies like AI, but which steps outside of the usual format. This is one such episode. In it, I’ll be interviewing one of the founders of Art Recognition, the firm that sponsors this podcast and runs the AI image analysis tests—Carina Popovici.

I wrote a feature in The Art Newspaper in December 2024 about how its analysis of The Polish Rider had solved the longstanding mystery. That was the subject of our previous episode, where my guest was Blake Gopnik. I was intrigued to learn more about AI and art analysis, and about Art Recognition in particular, which was the firm that most impressed me within this relatively young field. Many months and much research later, I was sufficiently impressed that I agreed to join Art Recognition as an advisor. This podcast series grew out of that relationship and the many mysteries it was solving. Because we’re not only going to reveal a very big, breaking news story that came from a combination of traditional research and AI analysis in the next episode. But we’ve got quite a few big news reveals planned for this season and next, so stay tuned. But first, let’s get to know the woman behind Art Recognition.

To learn more about Art Recognition, click here: https://art-recognition.com/

]]> Fri, 26 Sep 2025 17:01:34 +0000 theartthief@gmail.com (carina popovici, Noah Charney) https://is-it-the-art-mystery-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/interview-with-ai-expert-bxz58G5u Most episodes of this podcast will feature a special guest art expert who chooses a painting that they’d like to have analyzed—a painting with uncertain or debated authorship. We are joined by, an AI specialist who reveals the test results and we discuss them together. But here and there we’ll include an interview that is relevant to the topic of art authentication, art historical mysteries, and technologies like AI, but which steps outside of the usual format. This is one such episode. In it, I’ll be interviewing one of the founders of Art Recognition, the firm that sponsors this podcast and runs the AI image analysis tests—Carina Popovici.

I wrote a feature in The Art Newspaper in December 2024 about how its analysis of The Polish Rider had solved the longstanding mystery. That was the subject of our previous episode, where my guest was Blake Gopnik. I was intrigued to learn more about AI and art analysis, and about Art Recognition in particular, which was the firm that most impressed me within this relatively young field. Many months and much research later, I was sufficiently impressed that I agreed to join Art Recognition as an advisor. This podcast series grew out of that relationship and the many mysteries it was solving. Because we’re not only going to reveal a very big, breaking news story that came from a combination of traditional research and AI analysis in the next episode. But we’ve got quite a few big news reveals planned for this season and next, so stay tuned. But first, let’s get to know the woman behind Art Recognition.

To learn more about Art Recognition, click here: https://art-recognition.com/

]]> Interview with AI Expert Carina Popovici carina popovici, Noah Charney 00:32:40 Most episodes of this podcast will feature a special guest art expert who chooses a painting that they’d like to have analyzed—a painting with uncertain or debated authorship. We are joined by, an AI specialist who reveals the test results and we discuss them together. But here and there we’ll include an interview that is relevant to the topic of art authentication, art historical mysteries, and technologies like AI, but which steps outside of the usual format. This is one such episode. In it, I’ll be interviewing one of the founders of Art Recognition, the firm that sponsors this podcast and runs the AI image analysis tests—Carina Popovici. Most episodes of this podcast will feature a special guest art expert who chooses a painting that they’d like to have analyzed—a painting with uncertain or debated authorship. We are joined by, an AI specialist who reveals the test results and we discuss them together. But here and there we’ll include an interview that is relevant to the topic of art authentication, art historical mysteries, and technologies like AI, but which steps outside of the usual format. This is one such episode. In it, I’ll be interviewing one of the founders of Art Recognition, the firm that sponsors this podcast and runs the AI image analysis tests—Carina Popovici. art, data sets, art history, art recognition, artificial intelligence, noah charney, carina popovici, history of art, ai false full 3 a6ede071-5ead-4fe0-8fb6-d2478734cab1 Is It a Rembrandt? with Blake Gopnik This episode of Is It? dives deeply into one of art history's enduring mysteries: The Polish Rider. A star attraction at the Frick in New York, it has long confused scholars. Is it entirely by Rembrandt? Mostly? Is it derivative or even a forgery? The brilliant art historian and critic Blake Gopnik is my guest to dive into this fascinating topic and much more, including Blake's new book, "The Maverick's Museum: Albert Barnes and His American Dream."

Blake Gopnik is not just an art critic. He is one of the most electrifying minds writing about art and artists today. You might know his name from the New York Times, The Washington Post, Artforum, The Daily Beast—the kind of publications that don’t just review art, but shape the conversation around it. Blake is also the author of the monumental biography Warhol—a 900-page deep dive into the life, myth, and mechanics of America’s most enigmatic artist. It’s a book that doesn’t just profile Warhol—it reframes him, challenges the clichés, and makes you see the man behind the silver wig with totally fresh eyes.

This painting is what first brought Art Recognition to my attention: I wrote a feature in The Art Newspaper in December 2024 about how its analysis of The Polish Rider had solved the longstanding mystery. Even better, the AI analysis perfectly synced with what most scholars had already thought, providing a level of certainty that this art historical mystery was finally solved. Many months and much research later, I agreed to join Art Recognition as an advisor.

In most episodes of Is It? the result of the AI analysis will only be revealed live, during the podcast, by an Art Recognition specialist...and then I discuss it with them and with my special guest expert. This episode is an outlier in that we already knew the result and therefore do not have an AI specialist appearing. My guest, Blake Gopnik, was interested in exploring this painting together, and so this is one of the only episodes without the traditional "reveal."

Blake is one of my favorite authors and thinkers on art, and our discussion is wide-ranging. I highly recommend his new book, which you can order here.

To see the painting featured in this episode, The Polish Rider, click here.

]]> Wed, 24 Sep 2025 09:53:14 +0000 theartthief@gmail.com (blake gopnik, Noah Charney) https://is-it-the-art-mystery-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/is-it-a-rembrandt-ymF4bxDw This episode of Is It? dives deeply into one of art history's enduring mysteries: The Polish Rider. A star attraction at the Frick in New York, it has long confused scholars. Is it entirely by Rembrandt? Mostly? Is it derivative or even a forgery? The brilliant art historian and critic Blake Gopnik is my guest to dive into this fascinating topic and much more, including Blake's new book, "The Maverick's Museum: Albert Barnes and His American Dream."

Blake Gopnik is not just an art critic. He is one of the most electrifying minds writing about art and artists today. You might know his name from the New York Times, The Washington Post, Artforum, The Daily Beast—the kind of publications that don’t just review art, but shape the conversation around it. Blake is also the author of the monumental biography Warhol—a 900-page deep dive into the life, myth, and mechanics of America’s most enigmatic artist. It’s a book that doesn’t just profile Warhol—it reframes him, challenges the clichés, and makes you see the man behind the silver wig with totally fresh eyes.

This painting is what first brought Art Recognition to my attention: I wrote a feature in The Art Newspaper in December 2024 about how its analysis of The Polish Rider had solved the longstanding mystery. Even better, the AI analysis perfectly synced with what most scholars had already thought, providing a level of certainty that this art historical mystery was finally solved. Many months and much research later, I agreed to join Art Recognition as an advisor.

In most episodes of Is It? the result of the AI analysis will only be revealed live, during the podcast, by an Art Recognition specialist...and then I discuss it with them and with my special guest expert. This episode is an outlier in that we already knew the result and therefore do not have an AI specialist appearing. My guest, Blake Gopnik, was interested in exploring this painting together, and so this is one of the only episodes without the traditional "reveal."

Blake is one of my favorite authors and thinkers on art, and our discussion is wide-ranging. I highly recommend his new book, which you can order here.

To see the painting featured in this episode, The Polish Rider, click here.

]]> Is It a Rembrandt? with Blake Gopnik blake gopnik, Noah Charney 00:39:24 This episode of Is It? dives deeply into one of art history's enduring mysteries: The Polish Rider. A star attraction at the Frick in New York, it has long confused scholars. Is it entirely by Rembrandt? Mostly? Is it derivative or even a forgery? The brilliant art historian and critic Blake Gopnik is my guest to dive into this fascinating topic and much more, including Blake's book, "The Maverick's Museum: Albert Barnes and His American Dream." This episode of Is It? dives deeply into one of art history's enduring mysteries: The Polish Rider. A star attraction at the Frick in New York, it has long confused scholars. Is it entirely by Rembrandt? Mostly? Is it derivative or even a forgery? The brilliant art historian and critic Blake Gopnik is my guest to dive into this fascinating topic and much more, including Blake's book, "The Maverick's Museum: Albert Barnes and His American Dream." art, polish rider, attribution, frick, art history, art recognition, artificial intelligence, connoisseurship, noah charney, rembrandt, history of art, blake gopnik, ai, museums false full 2 a92052cb-e53a-41f4-8cf0-c63bf2bb0027 Is It a Van Dyck? with Professor Nils Büttner Is it a Van Dyck? That’s the question we seek to answer in this episode. The painting in question is one of several versions of a Portrait of Don Diego Messia Felipe de Guzman, some of which are by Anthony van Dyck. But is this one? To answer this question, my guests for this episode include Prof. Dr. Nils Büttner, a distinguished art historian specializing in the visual culture of Germany and the Netherlands from the 15th to the 17th centuries; and Alita de Feudis, an art historian affiliated with Art Recognition, a Swiss technology company specializing in AI-driven art authentication.

 

To learn more about the picture in question, go to this website: https://art-recognition.com/case-studies/anthony-van-dyck-the-portrait-of-don-felipe-de-guzman/

 

To read a scholarly article by Dr. Büttner and the Art Recognition team on this picture, go to this website: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.kunstgeschichte-ejournal.net/622/3/Buettner%2C%20de%20feudis%2C%20popovici2.pdf

 

We hope you enjoy this episode. Please subscribe if you'd like to always get the newest episodes straight away!

]]> Tue, 23 Sep 2025 20:21:17 +0000 theartthief@gmail.com (Nils Büttner, Alita de Feudis, Noah Charney) https://is-it-the-art-mystery-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/is-it-a-van-dyck-STv1PRcT Is it a Van Dyck? That’s the question we seek to answer in this episode. The painting in question is one of several versions of a Portrait of Don Diego Messia Felipe de Guzman, some of which are by Anthony van Dyck. But is this one? To answer this question, my guests for this episode include Prof. Dr. Nils Büttner, a distinguished art historian specializing in the visual culture of Germany and the Netherlands from the 15th to the 17th centuries; and Alita de Feudis, an art historian affiliated with Art Recognition, a Swiss technology company specializing in AI-driven art authentication.

 

To learn more about the picture in question, go to this website: https://art-recognition.com/case-studies/anthony-van-dyck-the-portrait-of-don-felipe-de-guzman/

 

To read a scholarly article by Dr. Büttner and the Art Recognition team on this picture, go to this website: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.kunstgeschichte-ejournal.net/622/3/Buettner%2C%20de%20feudis%2C%20popovici2.pdf

 

We hope you enjoy this episode. Please subscribe if you'd like to always get the newest episodes straight away!

]]> Is It a Van Dyck? with Professor Nils Büttner Nils Büttner, Alita de Feudis, Noah Charney 00:42:10 Is it a Van Dyck? That’s the question we seek to answer in this episode. The painting in question is one of several versions of a Portrait of Don Diego Messia Felipe de Guzman, some of which are by Anthony van Dyck. But is this one? To answer this question, my guests for this episode include Prof. Dr. Nils Büttner, a distinguished art historian specializing in the visual culture of Germany and the Netherlands from the 15th to the 17th centuries; and Alita de Feudis, an art historian affiliated with Art Recognition, a Swiss technology company specializing in AI-driven art authentication. Is it a Van Dyck? That’s the question we seek to answer in this episode. The painting in question is one of several versions of a Portrait of Don Diego Messia Felipe de Guzman, some of which are by Anthony van Dyck. But is this one? To answer this question, my guests for this episode include Prof. Dr. Nils Büttner, a distinguished art historian specializing in the visual culture of Germany and the Netherlands from the 15th to the 17th centuries; and Alita de Feudis, an art historian affiliated with Art Recognition, a Swiss technology company specializing in AI-driven art authentication. attribution, art history, provenance, van dyck, history of art, portrait of don diego messia felipe de guzman, museums, anthony van dyck false full 1