The Copper Butterfly, an unsigned classical painting, was carbon dated

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

The Copper Butterfly, an unsigned classical painting, was carbon dated to ascertain its age, previously estimated at 520 years. Manuscripts from that time reveal that one of two possible artists must be responsible for the painting's creation. One of the artists died one week after the painting had been commissioned while the other died 13 years later. Because in those days oil paintings usually took a long time to complete, it was probably the artist who died later who painted the Copper Butterfly.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the hypothesis that the Copper Butterfly was painted by the artist who died later?


A. The artist who died later was murdered whereas the artist who died earlier passed away after contracting a disease that was plaguing the area.

Incorrect.

To solve this Conclusion Strengthening question, first break down the argument. The first three sentences are premises which provide factual data; the last sentence uses the word probably which indicates that the statement is not concrete, and instead, a judgment made by the author. We can refer to this statement as the conclusion:

Premise A: the painting is 520 years old
+
Premise B: there were two artists that could have painted it
+
Premise C: one artist died a week after the painting was ordered; the other 13 years after the painting was ordered
=
Conclusion: the artist that died 13 years after the painting was ordered was the one who painted it

Possible assumption: in those days, the painting process took longer than the period of time from the day the painting was commissioned to the day the painter who died earlier died.

Strengthening Data: ?

You are required to find data that supports the view that the artist who died later was the one who painted the Copper Butterfly. The correct answer could be one that confirms the argument's assumption.

This answer choice neither weakens nor strengthens the author's hypothesis. The cause of the artists' death is irrelevant in proving which of them painted the Copper Butterfly since it doesn't rule either of them out.


B. The artist who died earlier completed a different oil painting one week before the Copper Butterfly was commissioned.

Incorrect.

This answer choice neither weakens nor strengthens the author's hypothesis. The fact that the artist who died earlier finished a painting one week before Copper Butterfly was commissioned is irrelevant in proving which of them painted it.

For instance, if that artist started the other painting two weeks before the Copper Butterfly was commissioned, then he completed it in a week, which suggests he could have done the same with the Copper Butterfly. If he started the other painting earlier, he didn't. We simply do not have enough information.




C. The oil paint used 520 years ago was produced by the artists themselves for each painting, in a chemical reaction that took eleven days to prepare.

This answer choice proves without doubt that the artist who died later painted the Copper Butterfly, thus strengthening the conclusion. If the artist who died earlier only had one week to work, and the paint-creation process took 11 days, it becomes clear that he would not have had enough time to complete the painting.




D. The artist who painted the Copper Butterfly did not paint another picture for the person who commissioned it.

Incorrect.

To solve this Conclusion Strengthening question, first break down the argument. The first three sentences are premises which provide factual data; the last sentence uses the word probably which indicates that the statement is not concrete, and instead, a judgment made by the author. We can refer to this statement as the conclusion:

Premise A: the painting is 520 years old
+
Premise B: there were two artists that could have painted it
+
Premise C: one artist died a week after the painting was ordered; the other 13 years after the painting was ordered
=
Conclusion: the artist that died 13 years after the painting was ordered was the one who painted it

Possible assumption: in those days, the painting process took longer than the period of time from the day the painting was commissioned to the day the painter who died earlier died.

Strengthening Data: ?

You are required to find data that supports the view that the artist who died later was the one who painted the Copper Butterfly. The correct answer could be one that confirms the argument's assumption.

This answer choice neither weakens nor strengthens the author's hypothesis. It is possible that Both artists could didn't paint another picture for the person who commissioned the Copper Butterfly: the artist who died earlier because, well, he would probably be dead; and the artist who died later because the person simply didn't commission another painting from him (or any other reason).


E. The artist who died earlier was known for leaving his paintings unsigned.

Incorrect.

This answer choice weakens the author's hypothesis. Remember, we're looking to prove that the artist who died later was the one who painted the Copper Butterfly. The fact that the artist who died earlier usually left his paintings unsigned coupled with the fact that the Copper Butterfly was unsigned, undermines the theory that the artist who died later was responsible for it.


_________________

A. The artist who died later was murdered whereas the artist who died earlier passed away after contracting a disease that was plaguing the area.
Irrelevant

B. The artist who died earlier completed a different oil painting one week before the Copper Butterfly was commissioned.
Irrelevant

C. The oil paint used 520 years ago was produced by the artists themselves for each painting, in a chemical reaction that took eleven days to prepare.
This option eliminates earlier artist as he died before the time period in which he would have prepared the colors for the painting as the color preparation takes 11 days; logically earlier artist has not done the the painting

D. The artist who painted the Copper Butterfly did not paint another picture for the person who commissioned it.
Irrelevant

E. The artist who died earlier was known for leaving his paintings unsigned
it weekens the belief that later artist has done the painting

C is the answer IMO

Premise: The painting, estimated at 520 year, can be attributed to two possible artists
- One of the artists died one week after the painting had been commissioned.
- the other died 13 years later.
Because in those days oil paintings usually took a long time to complete, it was probably the artist who died later who painted the Copper Butterfly. (Conclusion)

To support the conclusion, we must ensure that the painting was not done by the painter died first (i.e. add to conclusion).
Also, the task of painting actually took longer (i.e. add to premise that directly impacts the conclusion)

A. The artist who died later was murdered whereas the artist who died earlier passed away after contracting a disease that was plaguing the area.
The way artists died does not impact the argument.
B. The artist who died earlier completed a different oil painting one week before the Copper Butterfly was commissioned.
The different painting is not scoped in this argument.
C. The oil paint used 520 years ago was produced by the artists themselves for each painting, in a chemical reaction that took eleven days to prepare.
Looks Correct. The task of painting actually took longer.
D. The artist who painted the Copper Butterfly did not paint another picture for the person who commissioned it.
Painting another picture does not impact anything on the argument related to the Copper Butterfly.
E. The artist who died earlier was known for leaving his paintings unsigned.
Putting signature on the painting just tells the way to decipher the timeline . The concern is not about who had signed (or not) it, but about who actually had painted it.

Thus, C

CONCLUSION - Copper Butterfly was painted by the artist who died 13 years later

GIVEN -

1) Previous age identified was 520 years
2) Manuscripts say on of the two artists painted Copper Butterfly , one died after a week the painting was commissioned and the other died after 13 years
3) Oil paintings took a long time to complete

STRENGTHNER - What new information increases the belief in the conclusion?

ANSWER CHOICE ANALYSIS -

A) How the artist died doesn't impact the conclusion
B) Irrelevant
C) CORRECT - Oil paints took 11 days to prepare, then the painting couldn't be completed in a week
D) Irrelevant
E) Irrelevant

The Copper Butterfly, an unsigned classical painting, was carbon dated to ascertain its age, previously estimated at 520 years. Manuscripts from that time reveal that one of two possible artists must be responsible for the painting's creation. One of the artists died one week after the painting had been commissioned while the other died 13 years later. Because in those days oil paintings usually took a long time to complete, it was probably the artist who died later who painted the Copper Butterfly.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the hypothesis that the Copper Butterfly was painted by the artist who died later?


A. The artist who died later was murdered whereas the artist who died earlier passed away after contracting a disease that was plaguing the area. Incorrect

it is not a perfect reason

B. The artist who died earlier completed a different oil painting one week before the Copper Butterfly was commissioned. Incorrect

it against conclusion

C. The oil paint used 520 years ago was produced by the artists themselves for each painting, in a chemical reaction that took eleven days to prepare. Correct

whereas 11 days required to produce pain, how can a painter pain a picture within one week

D. The artist who painted the Copper Butterfly did not paint another picture for the person who commissioned it. Incorrect

it indicates earlier painter

E. The artist who died earlier was known for leaving his paintings unsigned. Incorrect

against conclusion
_________________

The Copper Butterfly, an unsigned classical painting, was carbon dated to ascertain its age, previously estimated at 520 years. Manuscripts from that time reveal that one of two possible artists must be responsible for the painting's creation. One of the artists died one week after the painting had been commissioned while the other died 13 years later. Because in those days oil paintings usually took a long time to complete, it was probably the artist who died later who painted the Copper Butterfly.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the hypothesis that the Copper Butterfly was painted by the artist who died later?


A. The artist who died later was murdered whereas the artist who died earlier passed away after contracting a disease that was plaguing the area. - Incorrect. Irrelevant.

B. The artist who died earlier completed a different oil painting one week before the Copper Butterfly was commissioned. - Incorrect. Tells us nothing to be exact.

C. The oil paint used 520 years ago was produced by the artists themselves for each painting, in a chemical reaction that took eleven days to prepare. - Correct. Tells us why the painting could have been by the later painter.

D. The artist who painted the Copper Butterfly did not paint another picture for the person who commissioned it. - Incorrect

E. The artist who died earlier was known for leaving his paintings unsigned. - Incorrect. We don't know if the original painting was signed or not.

IMO C.

Because in those days oil paintings usually took a long time to complete, it was probably the artist who died later who painted the Copper Butterfly.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the hypothesis that the Copper Butterfly was painted by the artist who died later?

A. The artist who died later was murdered whereas the artist who died earlier passed away after contracting a disease that was plaguing the area. -> Irrelevant.

B. The artist who died earlier completed a different oil painting one week before the Copper Butterfly was commissioned. -> Incorrect.

C. The oil paint used 520 years ago was produced by the artists themselves for each painting, in a chemical reaction that took eleven days to prepare. -> So, paint was very specific and as paint needs 11 days to prepare, so 1st painter won't able to finish it off. Let's keep it.

D. The artist who painted the Copper Butterfly did not paint another picture for the person who commissioned it. -> Irrelevant.

E. The artist who died earlier was known for leaving his paintings unsigned. -> Incorrect.

So, I think C.

one week after the painting had been commissioned

Can someone tell me what is the meaning of "commissioned" here?
In my understanding, commissioned is the point of time when work has been done and worker is paid his amount.
Now according to option C, the paint took 11 days to prepare and paint is prepared by painter itself... It might be possible that paint was prepared 11days before when painting was commissioned and then after one week the first painter died of.
In that sense, the first painter could be responsible for painting.

If it were "one week after the painting had been started", the option C would be clearly answer.

Please comment on my understanding of "commissioned".

The Copper Butterfly, an unsigned classical painting, was carbon dated to ascertain its age, previously estimated at 520 years. Manuscripts from that time reveal that one of two possible artists must be responsible for the painting's creation. One of the artists died one week after the painting had been commissioned while the other died 13 years later. Because in those days oil paintings usually took a long time to complete, it was probably the artist who died later who painted the Copper Butterfly.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the hypothesis that the Copper Butterfly was painted by the artist who died later?

Solution: Pre-thinking To establish that the painting was made by the 2nd artist, it should be proved that the painting was started and/or completed one week after the painting was commissioned.

A. The artist who died later was murdered whereas the artist who died earlier passed away after contracting a disease that was plaguing the area.
Irrelevant as Option A does not mention anything about Copper Butterfly. Drop Option A.

B. The artist who died earlier completed a different oil painting one week before the Copper Butterfly was commissioned.
Irrelevant, as it does not mention anything about Copper Butterfly. Drop Option B.

C. The oil paint used 520 years ago was produced by the artists themselves for each painting, in a chemical reaction that took eleven days to prepare.
If the oil paint takes 11 days to produce, then the oil used to create the painting had been prepared 11 days after the painting was commissioned. Artist 1 was no longer present to have created the painting. This information helps support the hypothesis that the Copper Butterfly was painted by the artist who died later. Keep Option C.

D. The artist who painted the Copper Butterfly did not paint another picture for the person who commissioned it.
Whether another picture was painted or not is irrelevant here. Drop Option D.

E. The artist who died earlier was known for leaving his paintings unsigned.
Option E weakens and does not support the hypothesis in question. Drop E.

IMO answer should be Option C.
_________________

The Copper Butterfly, an unsigned classical painting, was carbon dated to ascertain its age, previously estimated at 520 years. Manuscripts from that time reveal that one of two possible artists must be responsible for the painting's creation. One of the artists died one week after the painting had been commissioned while the other died 13 years later. Because in those days oil paintings usually took a long time to complete, it was probably the artist who died later who painted the Copper Butterfly.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the hypothesis that the Copper Butterfly was painted by the artist who died later?

Conclusion: The artist who died later was the creator of the painting.
Premise: Oil paintings took long to complete, and since on of the possible 2 people died within a week, it should be the other one(who lived for 13 years more than the first one)

Strengthen questions will always bring new information in to support the premise or conclusion. And possible ways we have seen in the past to strengthen a conclusion are:

1. Giving information to support conclusion
2. Giving information to support premise
3. New info to negate alternative possibilities

Typical wrong answers of strengthen questions are:
1. Weakening answers
2. Out of scope answers that do not relate to the conclusion
3. Restating what is mentioned in the stimulus
4. Convoluted answer types which will contain all keywords from the stimulus but will have one/two words off.

A. The artist who died later was murdered whereas the artist who died earlier passed away after contracting a disease that was plaguing the area.

So what? This is an OS and doesn't relate to our conclusion. We need to prove that the one who died later is the creator. Their untimely deaths, although sad, are Out of scope.

B. The artist who died earlier completed a different oil painting one week before the Copper Butterfly was commissioned.

OS. So what he completed a painting before being commissioned for the copper butterfly. He could have been free during Copper Butterfly or he could have received some other work too.

C. The oil paint used 520 years ago was produced by the artists themselves for each painting, in a chemical reaction that took eleven days to prepare.

This seems nice. If it took 11 days to produce oil paints. And 1 artist died within a week from the project commission date. means he couldn't have even started.

D. The artist who painted the Copper Butterfly did not paint another picture for the person who commissioned it.

If he didn't paint another picture for the person, could mean he maybe he wasn't commissioned for it. The answer choice wants us to think that since he only did one painting, it should be the guy who lived less. Even if that were true, it will weaken our conclusion, which is the opposite of what the question is asking for.

E. The artist who died earlier was known for leaving his paintings unsigned.

We don't know about the second artist.


Hence, C is the right answer.

I do not think this kind of question will appear on the GMAT because whether you answer this question correctly or not depends on the understanding of the word "commissioned", which I figure is outside knowledge specific to the art world.
Commissioned is usually used when something is completed and put to use for the first time. With this as your understanding you will never be able to answer this question.Here commissioned means to place an order for a painting.
So do not stress over this if you did not get this correct; I didn't either. Cheers.

^ Agreed. What would the answer be if the painting was painted before being 'commissioned'?