Rating and value of works, paintings by Jules Breton

If you own a work by or after Jules Breton, 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.

Artist's rating and value Jules Breton   

The artist Jules Breton left behind a classic body of work, composed mainly of realistic and naturalistic paintings. From then on, prices for his works rose under the auctioneer's hammer. His paintings are highly prized, especially by English and French buyers. The price at which they sell on the art market ranges from €10 to €1,369,755, a very substantial range, but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to Breton's works. In 2019, a landscape painting entitled Le matin, with its relatively dark tones, sold for €872,145, whereas its estimate was between €349,000 and €523,500.

Order of value from a simple work to the most prestigious

Style and technique of the artist Jules Breton   

Jules Breton was part of the realist movement, but his paintings also bear the hallmarks of the naturalist movement. Working mainly in oil on canvas, he is considered one of the first painters to focus on the theme of farmers and peasants.

The life of Jules Breton 

Jules Breton (1827-1906) was a 19th-century French painter, renowned for his rural and peasant works depicting the simplicity of country life. Born in the village of Courrières, France, Breton showed precocious artistic talent and received encouragement from his family to pursue an artistic career.

He studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he was influenced by the realist movement and the landscape painters of the time. Breton developed a distinctive style characterized by meticulous detail, a subtle use of light and a focus on the emotions and stories of the people he portrayed.

His most famous paintings include scenes of farm workers, harvesters and shepherds, often set in rural landscapes. One of his most iconic canvases is La Chanson de l'Alouette, featuring a young peasant girl singing in the middle of the fields.

He exhibited extensively in France, and his work was well received, although it remained very neutral compared to the social commitment of Gustave Courbet or Jean-François Millet.

Jules Breton's imprint on his period

Throughout his career, Jules Breton was acclaimed for his ability to capture the dignity and simplicity of ordinary people, as well as for his technical mastery and attention to detail. His works were exhibited in renowned art salons and helped shape the realist movement in France.

He leaves behind a lasting legacy as an artist who celebrated rural life and the timeless beauty of the French countryside through his paintings.

He remains an artist prized at auction by connoisseurs and collectors of realistic works.  

Recognizing the artist's signature

Not all works by Jules Breton 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 Breton, 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.