Inherited paintings arrive with two things: a story, and a question. The story is usually on the back of the canvas, in an old gallery label, a stamp or a pencil note. The question is what to do with it. Inherited art is common: in the Art Basel and UBS Survey of Global Collecting 2026, 72% of the 3,100 wealthy collectors surveyed said they had already inherited art [1]. Some families keep the painting where it has always hung. Others would rather turn it into money, share it fairly and move on. If you are in the second group, this guide explains what to agree first, what to look for and how a direct sale works, in plain words.

The short answer: agree as a family first, gather the papers you can find, then request a free offer. FinanceFarm buys fine art, luxury watches and rare collectibles worth 25,000 Swiss francs or more directly from owners and heirs, with no selling fees, and you see the price in writing before anything leaves the house.

What should a family agree before selling an inherited painting?

An inherited painting often belongs to more than one person. Before anyone requests an offer, talk as a family: who would like to keep it, who would rather sell, and who will look after the sale. If someone is handling the estate for the family, include them from the start. They usually know where things stand.

A written offer helps with that conversation. Everyone sees the same number at the same time, and the family can discuss it together. Requesting it is free and commits no one.

What should heirs look for before selling?

Most of the work is finding what came with the painting. Start with the back of the canvas, then the family papers.

• The back of the canvas: gallery labels, exhibition stickers, stamps, auction lot numbers and handwritten notes. Photograph them; they often say where the painting was bought, where it was shown and who owned it before [2].
• Invoices and receipts: from a gallery, a dealer or an auction house.
• Certificates and earlier valuations: a certificate of authenticity, an insurance valuation, a letter from an expert.
• The family story: who bought it, roughly when, and where it has hung since. A few sentences are enough. Auction houses call this ownership history the provenance, and it may affect the value [3].

If the artist is Swiss, the Swiss Institute for Art Research (SIK-ISEA) is a good place to look: its online catalogues of works cover painters such as Ferdinand Hodler and Cuno Amiet [4], and its experts can examine a Swiss artwork to verify who made it [5].

Missing papers are common in an estate. Add what you have; our specialists tell you if anything else is needed.

Inherited a watch or a collectible too? The same logic applies: the box and papers, receipts and how it came into the family.

How does selling an inherited painting to FinanceFarm work?

1. Add your piece. Create a free account and add the painting with photos of the front and the back, and the papers you have.
2. Request a free offer. It is free and it does not commit you to anything.
3. Our specialists check it. They read the photos, the labels, the papers and the story, and send you an offer in writing.
4. Accept and send it insured. Once the purchase is agreed, you ship the painting to us insured, by courier or post.
5. Get paid within 96 hours of our inspection. There are no selling fees: you receive the agreed price.

FinanceFarm buys the painting itself. We are not an agent and not an auction house, so there is no consignment, no catalogue and no sale date to wait for. For an estate, that matters: the family knows the price in writing before anything leaves the house, and can decide together.

To compare a direct sale with an auction on time, certainty and fees, read the 15 questions owners ask us most. Missed the autumn auctions? Read how a painting can still become cash this season.

Can heirs do it from their phone?

Heirs rarely live next to the painting. Often one of them is in the apartment, sorting through the estate, while the others are in another city or another country.

With the FinanceFarm app, coming this month, whoever is standing in front of the painting can photograph the front, the back and the papers with a phone, request the offer from there, and read the written offer on the phone when it arrives. Until then, everything already works on the web at financefarm.com, on a phone or a computer.

Good photos help. Sotheby's, for example, recommends photos of the front and the back, a close-up of any signature, and natural light to avoid glare [6].

Which pieces does FinanceFarm buy?

Fine art, luxury watches and rare collectibles worth 25,000 Swiss francs or more per piece. Paintings and works on paper come first for us; we also buy watches and collectibles. Value depends on more than the artist's name: Christie's, for example, bases its estimates on a piece's condition, rarity, quality, provenance and recent auction prices of similar pieces [3]. If you are not sure whether an inherited piece reaches that value, add it anyway and our specialists will tell you.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need the original invoice to sell an inherited painting?
No. Add the papers you have: labels on the back, certificates, earlier valuations. Our specialists tell you if more is needed.

Is the offer from FinanceFarm free?
Yes. Requesting an offer is free, and it does not commit you to anything.

How does a written offer help a family decide?
Everyone sees the same number at the same time, so the family can discuss it together before anyone decides.

How quickly are heirs paid?
Within 96 hours of our inspection, once the purchase is agreed.

Does FinanceFarm charge selling fees?
No. The only cost on your side is the insured shipping to us.

Can I do all of this from my phone?
Yes, on the web today at financefarm.com, and in the FinanceFarm app, coming this month.

Sources

1. Art Basel, "Collecting across generations" (The Art Basel and UBS Survey of Global Collecting 2026), accessed 29 October 2026.
2. Christie's, "What to look for on the back of a painting: an expert guide", accessed 29 October 2026.
3. Christie's, "Glossary of auction terms", accessed 29 October 2026.
4. Swiss Institute for Art Research (SIK-ISEA), "Online resources", accessed 29 October 2026.
5. Swiss Institute for Art Research (SIK-ISEA), "Expertise and appraisals", accessed 29 October 2026.
6. Sotheby's Help Centre, "What do I need to request an estimate for my item?", accessed 29 October 2026.