Abstract: A computer-implemented method for authenticating artwork comprises obtaining identifying information for a target artwork, including at least an artwork identifier and dimensions and determining a set of target surface regions and coordinate information identifying and locating each target surface region relative to the overall surface. A three-dimensional topographical image of each surface region is obtained and stored so that the coordinate information and the topographical images are associated with the artwork identifier and each topographical image is associated with corresponding coordinate information. For authenticating questioned artwork purporting to be the target artwork, the coordinate information for the target artwork is used to obtain a three-dimensional topographical image of questioned surface regions corresponding in location to corresponding target surface regions of the target artwork.