Which of images represent correct colors? Any way to find it?

[Molly]

It is strange occurrence with the colors of images on web - you open the same image displayed in different sites and all versions of it look different as the colors are concerned!
Here is an example - it is detail from old painting from Prado museum. You can see - same painting but the colors differ significantly!
I understand that pics can be produced with different hardware, can be modified etc, etc, and
the BIG question is :
Is there any way to determine which image represents correct colors, that is, the ones closest to the original?

Thanks for any idea from people with experience in this area!

 

[ibclare]

I don't know the condition of the artwork, such as whether there has been any restoration. If not, then I think that neither is a true representation. Light and temperature exposure also have profound effects. Any deep saturation over time is unlikely to retain such intensity, especially reds. And in the second, that blue is pretty overwhelming. Despite the blue, I might have thought the second due to the faded qualities, but looking at the flesh tones, I would expect them to be more yellowed as they look in the first. Take away the color saturation in the first and it is probably more accurate. But as presented? Neither.

But I am no expert, so it's all speculation on my part! :mrgreen:

And as to whether Photoshop will determine, I am not sure if forensic methods such as examination at pixel level will help make any determination. Maybe someone else has better idea.

 

[trilly]

If it's an oil painting (and considering its age, it probably is) the colors won't be bright unless its been cleaned and restored. So it could be that both are the correct colors, it's just that one version has been worked over, while the other one has not.

(Yay, putting my art major to use, lol)

 

[Paul]

I would usually say that the 'original' the one that is closest to what's hanging in a gallery would be the 'dirty' version.
Most original masters have a natural ageing that makes most of the whites and lighter colours go a little yellow or off white with time, even the cleaning process undertaken by all galleries can only stabilize a paintings paint and lustre at that point in time.
Anything else is digital.