Art × Science × Intelligence
New ways of seeing
We combine condition checking, close looking, conservation science, and artificial intelligence to reveal what artworks can tell us.
The Visual History Lab
Visual culture holds a vast amount of material and image-based evidence. We build the methods—and the intelligent tools—to access this information.
Based in Hong Kong and working internationally, our team brings together historical and art-historical knowledge with scientific examination and artificial intelligence. The result is rigorous research that remains understandable, reviewable and useful.
What we do
Evidence, interpreted across disciplines
01
Artwork analysis
Physical examination, technical imaging, and analytical instrumentation to investigate condition, materials, origins, and authenticity.
02
Collection intelligence
Independent, white-glove research and strategic advice for collectors, family offices, museums and their trusted advisers.
03
AI research platforms
Agentic tools that connect archives, images and specialist knowledge while keeping evidence visible and traceable for expert review.
Recent innovations
Research made to move the field forward
01
Conservation AI Research Desk
An agentic research desk that searches a local conservation corpus and returns a cited synthesis with every source visible for professional review.
Conservation literature · Cited synthesis
02
Stylistic Analysis through an Art-History Agent
A framework connecting vision-transformer features, curator-written texts and an autonomous coordinator to produce evidence-led stylistic descriptions.
Marc S. Walton · Astrid Harth · August 2026
03
AI Characterization of Particles and Fibers
A semantically anchored vision system for retrieval and characterization of particles and fibers from optical microscopy images.
Simiao Sun et al. · August 2026
Our approach
Human judgment stays at the center
Technology expands the evidence we can gather. Expertise determines what that evidence means
01 / Observe
Look closely
Begin with the artwork: its condition, surface, structure, imagery and historical context.
02 / Analyze
Test the evidence
Use imaging, instrumentation, archives and computational methods to create multiple lines of evidence.
03 / Interpret
Build understanding
Bring scientific results and humanistic questions together in a clear, reviewable conclusion.
Who we work with
Specialist insight, shaped for each decision
Private collectors & family offices
Object-level research, collection care advice, and independent research for informed stewardship and acquisition decisions.
Museums & auction houses
Technical analysis, next-generation cataloguing and tools that connect collections with research questions.
Researchers & cultural institutions
Public research infrastructure, archival agents and collaborations that extend access to visual-history evidence.
Private wealth advisers
Clear specialist reporting that helps advisers coordinate collection strategy, care and due diligence.
Work with us
Its worth looking at it. Let us know your questions
We collaborate with collectors, museums, family offices, art advisers, collections managers.