Rating and value of paintings, still lifes by Henri Théodore Fantin Latour

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Rating and value of the artist Henri Fantin-Latour

Fantin-Latour is an artist of Symbolism and Realism. His legacy consists mainly of paintings. Today, prices for his paintings are skyrocketing under auctioneers' gavels.

His flower still lifes are particularly prized by English and American buyers, and the prices at which they sell on the art market range from €10 to €1,053,650, a considerable delta but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to Fantin-Latour's paintings.

In 2022, a painting entitled Nature morte aux reines-marguerites sold for €1,918,070, whereas its estimate was between €697,480 and €929,970.

The artist's price is very high, and varies according to the number of works on the auction market.

Order of value from a simple work to the most prestigious

Style and technique of the artist Henri Fantin-Latour     

Henri Fantin-Latour was part of the Realist movement, and also produced Symbolist works. He worked in the painter's classic media: drawing, print and oil on canvas.

Having experimented with traditional mythological and religious subjects, as well as portraiture - a genre in which the painter excelled thanks to his technical mastery of chiaroscuro - Henri Théodore Fantin-Latour's talent is mainly expressed in his still lifes of flowers, compositions in which he excelled.

Henri Fantin-Latour was part of the Realist movement, and also produced Symbolist works. He worked in the painter's classic media: drawing, print and oil on canvas.

Having explored traditional themes, he tackles mythological and religious subjects with a touch of sobriety and rigor, always emphasizing the finesse of the details.

His portraits, marked by a technical mastery of chiaroscuro, demonstrate a keen sense of light and shadow, giving his works a particular depth.

Each face seems imbued with a certain gravity, reflecting a meticulous search for the truth of expression. However, it is in his still lifes of flowers that his talent is most fully revealed.

Fantin-Latour excelled at capturing the fragility and vivacity of petals, capturing the texture and transparency of flowers with almost photographic precision.

Her bouquets, often arranged with deliberate simplicity, exude an intimate, peaceful atmosphere, in which every detail is carefully considered, from the subtle nuances of the colors to the softness of the light reflections.

The artist succeeds in bringing these compositions to life, making each still life a suspended moment, imbued with beauty and delicacy.

Henri Fantin-Latour, virtuoso of flower still lifes

Henri Théodore Fantin-Latour (1836-1904) was a 19th-century French painter, particularly renowned for his still lifes of flowers and portraits. Born in Grenoble, he received his first painting lessons from his father, Théodore Fantin-Latour.

In 1850, he left his hometown for Paris, where he enrolled at the Petite École de Dessin. Four years later, he entered the Beaux-Arts de Paris and studied alongsideEdgar Degas.

During this period, he produced a number of self-portraits, often in dark tones, already demonstrating his taste for chiaroscuro.

It was at the Louvre that he met James Whistler, who became a friend and artistic advisor. Fantin-Latour made several trips to London, where he developed a circle of admirers and clients.

During this period, he also learned the art of engraving from Edwin Edwards, an influential English engraver, and this expertise enriched his practice. In the 1860s, he began to gain recognition in England, his work being regularly exhibited at the Royal Academy.

It was at this time that he turned to still lifes, a genre he chose to assert his singularity in the face of academic conventions, which relegated these subjects to the bottom of the artistic hierarchy.

His flower paintings are distinguished by the finesse of his brushwork and the precision of his details, with each petal and leaf seeming to vibrate under the light.

Alongside his still lifes, Henri Fantin-Latour excelled in the art of portraiture. His canvases, often bathed in soft light, reflect a mastery of chiaroscuro. His attention to the features and expressions of his models lends his portraits a striking psychological depth. In France, he befriended artists such as Manet, Renoir and Monet, exhibiting alongside them.

Although he was close to Impressionist circles, he maintained a more realistic approach, distinguished by his attention to detail and meticulous technique.

In the 1870s, he married Victoria Dubourgalso a painter, who became his muse and artistic support. Their relationship, marked by great complicity, contributed to the blossoming of his career.

In addition to his flower paintings and portraits, Fantin-Latour explored symbolism, particularly through his prints. These works, often imbued with mystery, reveal a more poetic and introspective aspect of his work.

Henri Fantin-Latour died in 1904 in Buré, after a prolific career that left behind a body of work marked by a constant quest for beauty and truth, in the tradition of an art that was both intimate and universal.

Focus on Hommage à Delacroix, Henri Fantin-Latour

Henri Fantin-Latour's Hommage à Delacroix, painted in 1864, is an emblematic work that testifies to the artist's admiration for Eugène Delacroix, the master of Romanticism.

This composition, featuring a dozen figures, brings together painters and writers of the period in an act of collective veneration.

Among the most recognizable faces are those of Manet, Courbet and the writer Baudelaire, all gathered around the portrait of Delacroix, prominently placed in the center of the painting.

The scene takes place in an interior, where the atmosphere is one of solemnity and respect.

This densely-packed painting captures the precise moment when Delacroixalthough still alive, already embodied the tutelary figure of an art in full transformation.

Fantin-Latour's use of chiaroscuro accentuates the intensity of glances and gestures, creating a striking contrast between light and shadow.

The rich, subtle color palette magnifies the characters while underscoring the importance of the historical moment they share.

The arrangement of the figures, as if frozen in a moment of admiration, testifies not only to Fantin-Latour's deep veneration for Delacroix, but also to the personal bond he had with the artist and his contemporaries.

The choice of this composition, which combines collective portraiture and homage to a master, perfectly illustrates Delacroix's influence on Fantin-Latour's work and on the entire 19th-century artistic movement.

The painstaking craftsmanship and richness of detail demonstrate the artist's mastery, while the authenticity of the figures and the depth of their expression reveal an ability to capture the essence of the creative spirit of the period. 

Hommage à Delacroix is not just a portrait of a generation, it's a visual manifesto, a declaration of the importance of the Romantic artist's legacy to the history of modern art.

Fantin-Latour's legacy 

Fantin-Latour left behind an artistic legacy marked by his mastery of still life and his artistic versatility.

His works continue to be admired for their precision and emotional power, and he is considered one of the most important artists of 19th-century France.

He died leaving behind a considerable artistic legacy, heralding the artistic currents that were to follow and the interest in photography in art; he also left behind a substantial collection of erotic photographs.

Private collectors play a major role in the preservation of his work, given the scope of his production, even if some of his works are exhibited in museums.

Recognizing Fantin-Latour's signature  

Artists do not always sign their works. If you think you own one, it's best to have it appraised.

The signature may differ depending on the type of work, but paintings are often signed. There are also copies, which is why expertise is important.

Knowing the value of a work

If you happen to own a painting by Henri-Fantin Latour, or one based on the artist, don't hesitate to ask for a free estimate 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're thinking of selling your work of art, our specialists will also be on hand to help you find alternatives for selling it at the best possible price, taking market trends into account.