Is artificial intelligence rewriting art history? New technologies reveal the secrets of ancient paintings and the identities of their creators

(Photo from the archive of paintings shown in the "Artificial Intelligence and I" exhibition)

London, UK – Artificial intelligence is giving researchers and art historians new ways to uncover the secrets of historical artworks.

Advanced digital tools can now examine tiny details in old paintings. These details may help researchers find out who really created the works.

These tools can also help explain the conditions in which the paintings were made.

Studying paintings no longer depends only on looking at them and using the traditional knowledge of experts.

Computer programs and machine learning can now study colors, visual features, brushstrokes, and the way parts of a painting are arranged.

This makes it possible to compare many works that have been linked to different artists.

A chance to understand how an artwork was created

These tools can find small details that people may not easily notice. These include how colors are spread across a painting, patterns in brushstrokes, and details hidden under layers of paint.

This can help experts take another look at paintings whose creators have been disputed for many years.

Artificial intelligence can also compare an unidentified painting with known works by famous artists. It studies what is similar and what is different, providing scientific evidence that experts can use in their research.

This is especially useful when there are no clear historical records about a painting.

Technology also makes use of advanced imaging tools, X-rays, and the study of the materials in paintings. These methods can reveal early sketches and changes artists made before finishing a painting.

This gives researchers a clearer picture of the different steps involved in creating an artwork.

Important questions about the future of recording art history

Despite these abilities, artificial intelligence alone is not enough to identify who painted a work.

Its results must be checked by experts in art, painting restoration, and history. Experts must also examine the materials and records connected to the artwork.

These checks can help prevent mistakes.

Using artificial intelligence in this field raises important questions about how artistic heritage will be recorded in the future and whether the technology can settle long-running disagreements about who created certain paintings.

Artificial intelligence may also help rediscover artworks that have remained unknown or have been credited to other artists.

With human expertise working alongside new technology, the art world appears ready for a new period of research and discovery.

This period may change how people understand the history of famous paintings and reveal secrets hidden in their colors and layers for decades or even centuries.