Rating and value of works, paintings by Baron François Gérard

If you own a work by or after Baron Gérard, 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.

Cote et valeur de l'artiste François Gérard

The neoclassical artist François Gérard left behind a singular body of work. He was an official painter of the Empire, and was famous and sought-after during his lifetime. From then on, prices for his works rose under the auctioneers' hammer. His paintings are particularly prized, especially by French and English buyers. The price at which they sell on the art market ranges from €100 to €1,929,430, a considerable difference, but one that says a lot about the value that can be attributed to Gérard's works. In 2021, his 1815 portrait of Henri Seymour in full regalia sold for €271,000, whereas its estimate was between €150,000 and €200,000.

Order of value from a simple work to the most prestigious

Baron Gérard's style and technique  

Baron Gérard was part of the neo-classicism movement, which followed the return to Antiquity during the reign of Louis XVI. Like Jacques-Louis David, the leading exponent of this movement, he adopted the canons of classicism. His compositions are very Raphaelian, sometimes borrowing pastel colors from Mannerism.

Baron Gérard, from the Academy of Rome to Empire propaganda

François Gérard (1770-1837) was a 19th-century French painter, known for his portraits and neoclassical works of art. He was born in Rome, Italy, where his father, also a painter, worked as director of the Académie de France in Rome.

Gérard studied painting in Paris and quickly gained a reputation for elegant, flattering portraits. He painted many members of the French royal family, including portraits of Queen Marie-Antoinette and Napoleon Bonaparte.

His artistic skills made him one of the most fashionable painters of his time, and he became Napoleon's official painter, who named him "Peintre de Sa Majesté l'Empereur". Despite his connection with Napoleon, Gérard managed to readjust to the restoration of the monarchy after the emperor's fall, and continued to paint portraits for the new authorities. He was awarded the title of Baron under the Restoration, after rendering royal portraits to Louis XVIII and Charles X.

In addition to portraits, Gérard also painted history and mythological scenes, as did Baron Jean-Antoine Gros. His style was influenced by Neoclassicism, characterized by balanced compositions, pure lines and references to the art of Antiquity.

Today, François Gérard's works are held in museums and collections around the world, and he is considered one of the most important painters of his time.

A painter at the service of the French state

François Gérard, a 19th-century French painter, left his mark on his time by becoming famous for his flattering portraits, which won him great popularity with the aristocracy and elite of his day. His appointment as "Painter to His Majesty the Emperor" by Napoleon Bonaparte gave him a high status, and his works helped to spread the Emperor's image.

His greatest battle was immortalized in the 1810 painting The Battle of Austerlitz, now at Versailles. He used Michelangelo's light work to depict the legendary sun of Austerlitz.

Gérard was also influential in the artistic and intellectual circles of his time, associated with artists such as Jacques-Louis David and Antoine-Jean Gros. He played a key role in promoting the neoclassical style in France, and even after the fall of the Emperor, he managed to adapt politically and artistically to maintain his reputation. Thus, thanks to his artistic talent, influential connections and impact on the neoclassical movement, François Gérard left a significant mark on the history of nineteenth-century French art.

Recognizing Baron Gérard's signature

Baron Gérard's works are generally 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. And of course, there are many copies.

Knowing the value of a work

If you happen to own a work by or after Gérard, 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 any relevant 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.