Rating and value of works, paintings and drawings by Baron Jean-Antoine Gros

If you own a work of art by or after Baron Jean-Antoine Gros, and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers can 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.

Rating and value of the artist Jean-Antoine Gros

The artist Jean-Antoine Gros left behind a singular body of work in the neoclassical movement. 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 buyers. The price at which they sell on the art market ranges from 120€ to 1,7,52,840€, a considerable difference, but one that says a lot about the value that can be attributed to Gros's works. In 2021, David Playing the Harp for King Saul sold for €300,000, whereas its estimate was between €100,000 and €150,000.

Order of value from a simple work to the most prestigious

Baron Gros style and technique  

Baron Gros was part of the neo-classicism movement, which followed the return to Antiquity during the reign of Louis XVI. Like Jacques-Louis David and Baron Gérard, the main exponents of this movement, he adopted the canons of classicism. His compositions are very Raphaelian, sometimes borrowing pastel colors from Mannerism. He is also referred to as a pre-romantic, having produced compositions with romantic overtones from the First Empire onwards, in the image of Chateaubriand in literature.

Baron Gros, from the Academy of Rome to Empire propaganda

Jean-Antoine Gros was a French painter born on March 16, 1771 in Paris and died on June 25, 1835 in Meudon, France. He is known as one of the leading exponents of Neoclassicism in early 19th-century French painting.

Gros studied under Jacques-Louis David and was strongly influenced by his master. Early in his career, Gros painted mainly historical subjects and mythological scenes, drawing inspiration from the events of the French Revolutionary period. However, his style evolved towards a more romantic and dramatic approach, particularly after traveling to Italy and discovering the works of artists such as Titian and Raphael. His later paintings were characterized by brighter colors, lighting effects and more expressive staging.

One of his most famous works is Napoléon Bonaparte targeting the plague-stricken of Jaffa, which depicts the French Emperor as a thaumaturge sovereign. This work reinforced Gros's reputation as a history and war painter. Like Baron Gérard, he was a painter of the Empire, and produced numerous paintings extolling Napoleon's poise and courage.

Although Gros enjoyed success during his lifetime, his pre-romantic style was out of step with the prevailing neoclassical tastes of the time. As a result, he was criticized and marginalized by some art critics. Despite this, his influence on nineteenth-century French painting was significant, and his dramatic style influenced many later artists.

A painter between two currents

After the fall of the Empire, Gros moved away from the neoclassical style and was influenced by the Romantic movement in painting, which he developed into a precursor. He spent his last years in Italy, where he continued to create works that were more concerned with the expression of feelings.

Jean-Antoine Gros has left an important legacy in art history, both for his neoclassical achievements and for his transition to Romanticism.

How to recognize the Baron Gros signature

Works by Baron Gros 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 Jean-Antoine Gros, 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.