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Why is provenance research alone not enough to prove an artwork is authentic?

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Hear about William Henry Ireland's fake manuscripts of William Shakespeare including a letter written to his wife — Forgery A look at a letter supposedly written by William Shakespeare to his wife, Anne Hathaway; it was, in fact, faked by William-Henry Ireland.

Provenance research, which involves investigating the history of an artwork's ownership and its mention in archival records, is a vital tool for establishing authenticity. However, it is not sufficient on its own because historical documentation can be manipulated or fabricated to deceive collectors and experts.1

Just as the physical attributes of an object can be forged, marks of ownership—such as stamps or written dates—can also be faked to create a false trail of legitimacy. Because forgers may go to great lengths to bolster the apparent authenticity of a spurious piece with false records, provenance research must be used in conjunction with other methods.12

To effectively detect art fraud, experts typically combine provenance research with:

Stylistic analysis: Evaluating the subject matter, brushwork, and composition against the known body of an artist's work.2
Technical analysis: Using scientific methods, such as microscopy, chemical analysis, and imaging (ultraviolet, infrared, or X-rays), to examine materials, pigments, and internal structures for signs of modern intervention or artificial aging.2

Relying solely on provenance leaves one vulnerable to sophisticated deceptions where the documentation itself is the forgery.21