Rating and value of works, paintings by Jean-Joseph Benjamin-Constant

If you own a work of art by or after JJ Benjamin-Constant, 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'll guide you towards the best possible arrangement to obtain the optimum price.

Artist's rating and value Jean-Jospeh Benjamin-Constant

Benjamin-Constant left behind a singular body of work in the Orientalist vein. From then on, prices for his works rose under the auctioneer's hammer. His paintings are particularly prized, especially by English and French buyers. The price at which they sell on the art market ranges from €10 to €458,670, a substantial gap but one that says a lot about the value that can be attributed to Benjamin-Constant's works. In 2019, his oil on canvas The King of Morocco Receiving a European Ambassador sold for €349,219.

Order of value from a simple work to the most prestigious

Benjamin-Constant style and technique

Benjamin-Constant follows the orientalist vein by following the acedemic canons. Most of his work is oil on canvas, with a predominantly oriental inspiration.

The life of Jean-Jospeh Benjamin-Constant   

François Jean-Baptiste Benjamin Constant (1845 - 1902), better known as Jean-Jospeh Benjamin-Constant or Benjamin-Constant, was a French Orientalist painter. He was born in Paris. His mother died when he was two, and he moved to Toulouse with his father. His aunts took turns raising him throughout his childhood. From 1859, he studied at the Beaux-Arts in Toulouse, when he was just 14. He studied under Jules Garipuy. In 1866, he returned to Paris to study at the École des Beaux-Arts. He studied with Alexandre Cabanel. He twice failed to win the Prix de Rome and presented his first painting at the Salon, Hamlet and the King, which was acquired by the French State. Like Eugène Delacroix, he was inspired by Morocco, particularly Tangiers. He was also inspired by Henri Regnaut. His career was interrupted by the war with Prussia, where he fought.

He then went back to Spain and stayed in Tangier for some time. In the meantime, he married a schoolteacher who died two years after their wedding.

Back in France, he sets up his studio in Montmartre with the artist Edmond Yarz. He continues to exhibit at the Salon and enjoys great success. He married Catherine Jeanne Arago, daughter of Emmanuel Arago. He then turned to decoration, creating freques for the Opéra de Paris and the Hotêl de Ville. At the end of his career, he traveled to the United States and Montreal. He became a teacher at the Académie Julian, was elected to the Académie des Beaux-Arts and, with Jean-Léon Gérôme, presided over the Orientalist exhibition of 1893. His talent as a portraitist was also recognized, and he was commissioned by Queen Victoria and Pope Leo XIII. 

Benjamin-Constant's imprint on his era

Benjamin-Constant (we're talking about the painter, not the writer Benjamin Constant de Rebecque), enjoyed dazzling success during his career, and was much appreciated by the general public. Today, his work is less famous, but he is still highly regarded on the art market.

Today, his work is highly rated on the auction market and sought after by collectors.

Recognizing Benjamin-Constant's signature

Benjamin-Constant's works are usually signed. He signs "Benj. Constant". 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 Benjamin-Constant, 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.