Are these paintings on canvas or wood?

The works utilise both oil on canvas and prepared wooden panels as structural supports. Canvas became increasingly common for larger compositions due to its relative lightness. Wooden panels tend to appear more often in earlier or smaller still life works and landscapes. Each material requires stable environmental conditions to prevent warping or cracking.

Where should I hang a dark seventeenth-century portrait?

Position the piece away from direct sunlight and strong heat sources to protect the sensitive oil pigments and canvas. Natural, indirect daylight allows the subtle shadow details and rich tones to emerge. Dark backgrounds benefit from placement against neutral walls where surrounding lighting can be controlled. Consider using picture lights designed to emit minimal heat.

How can I tell a period original from a later copy?

Examine the craquelure, which is the natural network of fine cracks that develops in ageing oil paint over centuries. Pigment analysis and the construction of the stretcher frame or panel offer further clues to the age. Stylistic execution and the quality of the brushwork also indicate whether a piece dates to the seventeenth century or represents a nineteenth-century revival.