Look at scale and composition
Record the painting and frame dimensions separately, then mark the volume on the proposed wall. Consider the distance from which it will usually be seen. A small scene with fine detail serves a different role from a large landscape. Judge the image in relation to the room instead of relying only on a cropped photograph.
Document the signature carefully
The former address referred to a signed twentieth-century landscape. That wording is not an authentication. Ask for a clear view of the inscription, the whole work and available documents. Do not reconstruct a familiar artist’s name from uncertain letters. Where attribution affects value or suitability, obtain competent advice.
Check surface and reverse
Ask about distortion, losses and known restoration, with photographs of the support and back. These may offer useful clues but do not settle dating on their own. For a series in a guest house or hotel, connect works through colour, format or subject, and retain a record of the intended location. Describe condition precisely rather than using “perfect” for an object seen only from the front.
For the next part of your selection, read Antique paintings for hotels: planning a coherent collection.