Rating and value of works, paintings by Léon Lhermitte

If you own a work by or after Léon Lhermitte, 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 Léon Lhermitte    

The artist Léon Lhermitte leaves behind a unique body of work, composed mainly of realistic paintings. Prices for his works are now rising under the auctioneer's hammer. His paintings are highly prized, especially by French and English buyers. The price at which they sell on the art market ranges from €20 to €932,830, a very substantial range, but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to Lhermitte's works. In 2017, a landscape drawing entitled Maison près du ru Chailly, sold for €143,120 against an estimate of €134,000 to €179,000.

Order of value from a simple work to the most prestigious

Style and technique of artist Léon Lhermitte     

Léon Lhermitte is part of the naturalist movement, which grew out of realism. He depicts nature and people as they are, without artifice. He mainly uses oil on canvas and drawing.

The life of Léon Lhermitte   

Léon Augustin Lhermitte (1844-1925) was a 19th-century French painter renowned for his naturalistic works. He was born into a modest, cultivated family in the Aisne region. His father, a schoolteacher, noticed his talent for drawing at an early age and encouraged him in this direction. Like Jules-Aimé Dalou, he entered the Petite École (later the École Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs). He went on to study at the Beaux-Arts de Paris.

His paintings were inspired by the rural landscapes of his native region, earning him the nickname "Painter of the Harvesters". The painting La Paie des moissonneurs (The Harvesters' Pay) was to be his first great success, making him a household name. He left for England, where he met Henri Fantin-Latour. He made several trips there to sell his works. He exhibited in France at the Exposition Internationale de Blanc et Noir and at the 1900 Universal Exhibition. He is elected to the delegation of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts.

Léon Lhermitte's imprint on his period

The artist is not well known to the general public today, as other artists such as Jean-François Millet are more prominent. However, he contributed to the formation and evolution of naturalist painting.

He remains an artist prized at auction by amateurs and collectors of Nabis works.

Recognizing the artist's signature

Not all works by Léon Lhermitte 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 Lhermitte, 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.