--- title: Changelog of Provenance updates description: This article documents changes of the provenance rendering made as part of the release of June 23, 2023. Read below what has been changed. --- [Skip to content](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/changelog-provenance#main-content) English Show submenu for translations [Contact support](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) [![NA+Logo+Large+White](https://knowledge.navigating.art/hs-fs/hubfs/NA+Logo+Large+White.png?width=53&height=50&name=NA+Logo+Large+White.png)](https://knowledge.navigating.art/?hsLang=en) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English Show submenu for translations - [Contact support](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/kb-tickets/new) Using the Navigating.art platform - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Help Center](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en?hsLang=en) 2. [General](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/general?hsLang=en) 3. [System updates & new features](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/general?hsLang=en#system-updates-new-features) # Changelog of Provenance updates ## This article documents changes in the provenance rendering made as part of the release of June 23, 2023. Read below what has been changed. We created the automatic provenance rendering to help apply a universal language to provenance descriptions. It’s a popular feature, and our users have sent us suggestions for how to make it even better. We listened and adjusted many of the transaction types to ensure the consistency of the wording. A new provenance type for restitutions now exists to clearly distinguish these cases from other types of returns. Below, you can see an overview of all the changes. Please be aware that published catalogues are**not affected** by the wording changes. To adapt your public records to the changes, you can review and re-publish the artwork entries. ### Overview of provenance changes The wording consistency relates to the type of transaction. We distinguish two groups of transactions for provenance events: **Ownership events** describe the change of legal owner. Statements for this type of transaction always begin with naming the owner first, then follows the description of the transaction details. **Possession events** describe a change in possession, while the previous owner remains unchanged. Since the event always relates to another ownership event, the wording of possession events focusses on the transaction first and then names the involved receiver afterwards. | **Provenance type** | **What has changed?** | **Example** | | --- | --- | --- | | Bequest | The transaction type "bequest" also works when only a receiver is given | Receiver, **bequest** | | Commissioned | The type commissioned describes a transaction where an artwork is transferred from the artist. A transaction source is no longer required and will not be displayed. Instead, "from the artist" is automatically added to the rendering. | Receiver, **commissioned from the artist** | | Confiscation | This transaction was changed to an **ownership event**. Additionally, the wording order was changed to highlight the confiscation first, followed by the naming of the receiver. | **Confiscated by** Receiver | | Consigned | Because a consignment describes a temporary change of possession, the wording of the rendering has been adjusted to begin with the transaction statement. | Source **On consignment with** Receiver | | Destroyed | If a date is added to this transaction, it is included in the rendering. | Destroyed **(Date)** | | Donation | The transaction type "donation" also works if only a receiver is given. | **Receiver, donation** | | Forced Sale | The wording now explicitly names this transaction as a forced sale and highlights it at the beginning of the provenance line. | Source **Forced sale to** Receiver | | Fractional Gift | If a source is given, the following line is shown indented. | Source Fractional gift to Receiver | | Inherited | The transaction type "inherited" also works if only a receiver is given. | **Receiver, inherited** | | Location unknown | The type of this transaction has been changed from possession to **ownership**. | Location unknown | | Restitution | Restitution has been added as a new transaction type. Restitution refers to the return of unlawfully acquired artwork or cultural property to its rightful owners or place of origin. | Source Receiver, **restituted** | | Return | The wording was changed to begin with the transaction description and then naming the receiver. | Source **Returned to** Receiver | | Stolen | A receiver can be added to this transaction type. The mention of "from above" has been removed. | Source **Stolen by** Receiver | | Transfer | The transaction type "transfer" also works if only a receiver is given. | Receiver, **transfer** |   Last updated: June 30, 2025 - [General](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/general?hsLang=en#main-content) - [First steps](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/general?hsLang=en#first-steps) - [Quality assurance](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/general?hsLang=en#quality-assurance) - [System updates & new features](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/general?hsLang=en#system-updates-new-features) - [Technology](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/general?hsLang=en#technology) - [FAQ](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/general?hsLang=en#faq) - [Objects](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/objects?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Artwork images](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/objects?hsLang=en#artwork-images) - [Artwork Details](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/objects?hsLang=en#artwork-details) - [Art events](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/objects?hsLang=en#art-events) - [Provenance events](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/objects?hsLang=en#provenance-events) - [Exhibition events](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/objects?hsLang=en#exhibition-events) - [Publication Events](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/objects?hsLang=en#publication-events) - [Reports](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/objects?hsLang=en#reports) - [Indexing terms & other descriptions](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/objects?hsLang=en#indexing-terms-other-descriptions) - [Archive](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/archive?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Resource entries](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/archive?hsLang=en#resource-entries) - [Media and files](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/archive?hsLang=en#media-and-files) - [Publications](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/publications?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Introduction](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/publications?hsLang=en#introduction) - [Publication media](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/publications?hsLang=en#publication-media) - [Reports](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/publications?hsLang=en#reports) - [Agents](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/agents?hsLang=en) - [Auctions](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/auctions?hsLang=en) - [Exhibitions](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/exhibitions?hsLang=en) - [Master Data](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/master-data?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Geographic locations](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/master-data?hsLang=en#geographic-locations) - [Indexing terms](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/master-data?hsLang=en#indexing-terms) - [Notes](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/master-data?hsLang=en#notes) - [Artwork sets](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/master-data?hsLang=en#artwork-sets) - [Best practices](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/best-practices?hsLang=en#main-content) - [FAQs](https://knowledge.navigating.art/en/best-practices?hsLang=en#faqs) [![Logo](https://knowledge.navigating.art/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo.png?width=53&height=50&name=Logo.png "Logo")](https://navigating.art/) Copyright © 2025, HPF Innovations gGmbH