Development of Creative Commons licenses

[Sunny Alanoly <signergyprints AT yahoo.co.in>]

Sir,
We are in India, a printing press intend to re-print old paintings of 
master painters like Raja Ravivarma(Indian), Michelangelo, Davinci, 
Carvaggio, Paul Rubens etc. to name some.

We get small pictures from publications and from Net; re-paint them by 
expert artists, scan and print to be distributed through Art shops. 
Initially we sell in India alone, but if demand may sell through Net/ebay.

1. Is any copyright existing to the above artists, most of them died 
more than 200 years ?
2. If yes, what has to be done to reprint them lawful ways ?
3. I noticed many studios offering high resolution digitized file
     copies of such paintings at a high price on Net. If copyright is 
existing, how they offer them to sell ?
4. Is a list available anywhere to find a list of a copyrighted as well 
as non-copyrighted Artists ?
5.Also I found a list of patent-free public domain, where it is said 
no
 patents & copyrights are existing on Paul Rubens works. Can I 
re-print Rubens work ?
Your advice is valuable. 
Kindly reply to email: signergyprints AT yahoo.co.in

Thanks for the time !
Thomas

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