Museums are used by historians. Art museums are used by art historians — professional, but also anyone interested in questions about the history of art: when an

Museums are used by historians. Art museums are used by art historians — professional, but also anyone interested in questions about the history of art: when and where was this subject, theme, material, or technique introduced; how common was it; who had access to what, when; how did it spread. Fakes and forgeries (these are different) are additional evidence, if correctly categorized as such, but contribute to false theories, if not.