The Van Gogh Museum confirmed Friday that two portraits suspected of being fakes are authentic.

A review of physical and historical evidence showed Vincent van Gogh, the Dutch master who lived from 1853-1890, painted them.

The analysis placed the date of the paintings in the spring of 1886 in Paris, when Van Gogh was being mentored by the painter Fernand Cormon.

One of the portraits depicts a woman in hat and the other, a lady folding her gloved hands.

"The combined weight of all this evidence offers convincing grounds for the reattribution of these two female portraits to Van Gogh," said Natalie Bos, spokeswoman for the museum located in Amsterdam.

However the identity of the women "remains a mystery."

Van Gogh is best known as a pioneer of the expressionism art movement and for his mental illness. His most famous works, including The Starry Night and Sunflowers, were created in the last two years of his life, after he cut off a part of his left ear.

Bos said the authenticity of paintings was questioned because the themes of the portraits were common in the 19th century, the era when the painter was active, but are not usual in the rest of his work.

Tests showed the paint was same he used in other works painted during that time definitely attributed to Van Gogh.

A stamp of a paint merchant near where Van Gogh lived at that time was found on the back of one of the portraits.

The picture frames were from the same manufacturer as other confirmed Van Goghs of that period.

A review of the painters other work turned up pieces similar in style.

In July scientists found a portrait of a woman painted underneath Patch of Grass by using x-rays. Van Gogh was known for painting over his work.

With files from the Associated Press