Rating and value of works, paintings by Eugène Isabey

If you own a work of art by or after Eugène Isabey, 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.

Rating and value of the artist Eugène Isabey  

Eugène Isabey left behind a romantic body of work inspired by the sea. Prices for his works are now skyrocketing under auctioneers' gavels. His paintings are highly prized, especially by French buyers. The price at which they sell on the art market ranges from €5 to €101,870, a very substantial difference, but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to Isabey's works. In 2022, his marine painting Matelots saluant le Christ en sortant du port de Saint Valéry en Caux, dating from 1867, sold for €41,800. His price is stable.  

Order of value from a simple work to the most prestigious

Style and technique of the artist Eugène Isabey  

Eugène Isabey was a painter who belonged to the Romantic movement, drawing much of his inspiration from Delacroix and Richard Parkes Bonington. His paintings were inspired by the sea, boats and sailors, making him one of the most eminent marine painters France has ever known.

Eugène Isabey, official painter of the French Navy

Eugène Louis Gabriel Isabey (1803 - 1886) was a 19th-century French marine painter.

His father, Jean Baptiste Isabey, was the most famous miniaturist of the Empire. He was born in the Louvre Palace, where his family lived. He wanted to become a sailor, but became a painter at his father's insistence. He painted historical and maritime scenes, as well as shipwrecks, which were all the rage at the time - no need to expand on the success of the Raft of the Medusa. He had a studio in Paris, where he trained students and painted with Horace Vernet. The discovery of Étretat is attributed to him, and he naturally went to Brittany and Normandy to paint the sea. He spent time in Honfleur with Xavier Leprince, then settled in Normandy, in Saint Siméon.

He was appointed official painter to the French Navy in 1930 and left for the African Campaign, where he painted panoramas of French ports and ships.

In 1840, he painted the Transbord des cendres de Napoléon Ier aboard the Belle-Poule, the French Army ship responsible for returning the imperial remains from Saint Helena to France.

Eugène Isabey's influence on his period 

Eugène Isabey made a name for himself in the art world of the 19th century, devoting his life to painting the sea. Unlike artists like Mathurin Janssaud, his work was known and recognized.

He was keen to paint the everyday life of sailors, sometimes without depicting the sea. He also knew how to reconcile marine and historical paintings, as shown by the Belle-Poule.

Recognizing the artist's signature

Not all works by Eugène Isabey are signed. They may be at the bottom of the painting, but if you think you own one, it's best to have it appraised to be sure of its originality.

Knowing the value of a work

If you happen to own a work by or after Eugène Isabey, 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.