Rating and value of works, drawings, paintings by Louis Hersent

If you own a work by or after Louis Hersent, and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers will offer you their appraisal services. Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your work, and provide you with a precise estimate of its current market value. Then, if you wish to sell your work, we will guide you towards the best possible arrangement to obtain the optimum price.

Louis Hersent artist's rating and value

Louis Hersent left behind a singular body of work in the neo-classical vein. From then on, prices for his works rose under the auctioneers' gavels. His paintings are particularly prized, especially by English and French buyers. The price at which they sell on the art market ranges from €160 to €98,000, a substantial range but one that says a lot about the value that can be attributed to Hersent's works. In 2023, his oil on canvas Portrait de la comtesse Wlash de Serrant sold for €98,000, whereas it was estimated at between €40,000 and €60,000.

Order of value from a simple work to the most prestigious

Louis Hersent's style and technique  

Louis Hersent was a 19th-century neoclassical history painter. He trained under Jacques Louis David, among others, who had a major influence on his career.

Hersent mainly produced drawings and oils on canvas, although there were also a few prints. 

The life of Louis Hersent   

Louis Hersent (1777 - 1860), a 19th-century painter, is relatively unknown to the general public.

He was born in Paris to an engraver who introduced him to art. He studied painting at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, in the studios of Jacques Louis David and Jean-Baptiste Regnault. Like Géricault, however, he was influenced by the times, borrowing elements from Romanticism.

Hersent won the second Prix de Rome in 1797 for La mort de Canton d'Utique. His specialty gradually took shape: portraits of historical figures, or pieds, in which he depicts the whole body, not just the bust. He was a great success in his day, as he was one of the last to respect the canons imposed by the Académie, and regularly exhibited his work at Parisian Salons. In 1822, he was elected a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts, thus establishing his legitimacy once and for all, with his status as Professor in the same institution, replacing Anne-Louis Girodet.

He marries Louise Marie-Jeanne Hersent, also a painter. They shared a studio in their home, where Louise Hersent trained women artists.

Louis Hersent dies in Paris at the age of 83.

Louis Hersent's imprint on his era 

Louis Hersent left no lasting legacy in his day. He was known during his lifetime and received commissions. He was noticed by a few critics when he exhibited. Today, his work is less famous, but he remains highly appreciated on the art market.

Its value is currently stable on the auction market.

Recognizing Louis Hersent's signature  

Works by Louis Hersent are sometimes signed. However, with or without a mention, it is important for you to have the work appraised to ensure its originality and to be able to date it.

Knowing the value of a work

If you happen to own a work by or after Louis Hersent, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal using the form on our website. A member of our team of experts and certified auctioneers will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the market value of your work, as well as ad hoc information about it. If you wish to sell your work of art, our specialists will also be on hand to offer you alternatives for selling it at the best possible price, taking into account market trends.