Rating and value of works, paintings, drawings by Louis Valtat

If you own a work by or after Louis Valtat, 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.

Rating and value of the artist Louis Valtat  

The artist Louis Valtat leaves behind a classical body of work, composed mainly of landscape and marine scenes. He studied art with Jules Lefebvre at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. From then on, prices for his works rose under the auctioneers' gavels. His paintings are highly prized, especially by American and French buyers. The price at which they sell on the art market ranges from €25 to €620,000, a very substantial range but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to Valtat's works. In 2018, Portrait de Madame Valtat sold for €337,060, whereas its estimate was between €120,000 and €180,000.

Order of value from a simple work to the most prestigious

Style and technique of artist Louis Valtat

Valtat belongs to the Fauve group. He is less famous than Vlaminck or Matisse, but is just as widely collected at auction. His output is particularly large, and he worked with prints, drawings and watercolors.

The life of Louis Valtat

French artist Louis Valtat (1869-1952) was born in Dieppe. His father was an amateur painter. His parents moved to Versailles when he was 10. His father exhibited at the Salon des Indépendants. He studies at the Beaux-Arts in Paris, where his teacher is Jules Lefebvre. He also attended the Académie Julian under the guidance of Gustave Boulanger and Benjamin Constant. He rubbed shoulders with the Nabis group, notably Édouard Vuillard, and set up a studio in what is now the 13th arrondissement of Paris. His early paintings are influenced by Pointillism (cf. Camille Pissarro and Maximilien Luce). He exhibited at the Salon des Indépendants in 1893, but was soon diagnosed with tuberculosis. He spent his convalescence in Arcachon, where he painted extensively. His paintings are exhibited at the Salon des Indépendants, where Félix Fénéon notices them and discerns the first characteristics of Fauvism. He was part of the scandal at the 1905 Salon d'Automne.

He spends half the year with his wife Suzanne Valtat in Provence, near Saint Raphaël. There he rubs shoulders with Auguste Renoir.

Ambroise Vollard, one of the most famous art dealers of the twentieth century, makes an agreement with him, stipulating that all Louis Valtat's production will be his property, so that he can sell the works. He became close friends with Auguste Renoir, who painted portraits of his wife, and whose portrait he also painted.

After the Second World War, he was forced into exile and returned to Paris, to his second studio in the 17th arrondissement, where he died of glaucoma in 1952. 

Louis Valtat's imprint on his period

Louis Valtat left his mark on the art world of the early 20th century through his constant artistic innovation and connections. He multiplied his sources of inspiration and was particularly successful in portraiture. His work remains highly prized today by collectors who, given the magnitude of his output, play a major role in preserving his artistic works.

Recognizing the artist's signature

Not all Valtat's works 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 Louis Valtat, 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.