Rating and value of works, paintings, drawings by Maurice Denis

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Rating and value of the artist Maurice Denis    

The artist Maurice Denis left behind a unique body of work, composed mainly of paintings influenced by the Nabis. Prices for his works are now rising under auctioneers' gavels.

His paintings are highly prized, especially by French and American buyers. The price at which they sell on the art market ranges from €5 to €1,951,840, a very wide range, but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to Maurice Denis's works.

In 2015, a painting entitled La Cuisinière sold for €1,951,849 while it was estimated at between €443,600 and €709,760.

Order of value from a simple work to the most prestigious

Style and technique of the artist Maurice Denis   

Maurice Denis' style is characterized by a resolutely poetic and spiritual approach to painting, making a lasting mark on Symbolist and Post-Impressionist art.

His immediately recognizable visual language favors the simplification of shapes and colors to achieve a serene harmony that magnifies everyday life.

Through flat colors and flowing lines, he captures the essence of everyday scenes, revealing a world imbued with gentleness and calm.

His works seem to unfold an inner light, a mystical breath that invites the viewer to plunge into silent contemplation.

This search for simple, sacred beauty is also reflected in his technique, where the flat surface becomes a space for meditation.

Today, Denis' creations continue to captivate art lovers, offering a timeless, soothing depth.

Museums and private collections treasure his canvases and frescoes, witnesses to a time when spirituality found a modern language in painting.

Maurice Denis doesn't simply seek to depict subjects; he instills an emotional dimension that transcends the image, creating an intimate and lasting connection with the viewer.

In this, his artistic legacy is an invitation to rediscover the power of a refined, sensitive vision, a tribute to the sensibility of the Nabis.

The life of Maurice Denis    

Maurice Denis (1870-1943) was a French Nabi painter. His life extended far beyond his creations, marking the history of art with a profoundly spiritual and poetic vision.

A visionary artist and theorist, Denis embodied the soul of the Nabi movement, gathering around him young painters eager to reinvent painting by freeing themselves from the constraints of realism.

His unique style is distinguished by a resolutely symbolist and decorative approach, where each canvas becomes a space of introspection, imbued with mythology, nature and religiosity.

Through simplified forms and vibrant colors, Denis composes works that go beyond simple representation to reach an almost mystical dimension.

His creations, imbued with harmony and gentleness, reveal his desire to bring the spiritual into dialogue with the everyday, as a reflection of his personal quest for the absolute. He worked alongside such outstanding figures as Paul Sérusier, Ker-Xavier Roussel and Édouard Vuillardhelping to redefine the boundaries of the art of his time.

As a theorist, Denis also leaves an indelible mark. His famous phrase, "Remember that a painting, before being a warhorse, a naked woman or some anecdote, is essentially a flat surface covered with colors in a certain assembled order."resonates like a manifesto of modernity, affirming the autonomy of painting.

His writings had a profound influence on subsequent generations of artists, encouraging an introspective, symbolic approach to creation.

Today, the works of Maurice Denis continue to delight art lovers and collectors the world over, and many museums devote dedicated spaces to him, bearing witness to the lasting imprint he left.

Through his art, Denis doesn't just illustrate; he transcends appearances to invite deeper contemplation, a true communion with the sacred.

In this, his legacy is much more than an artistic contribution: it embodies a quest for meaning that continues to inspire those who see art as a path to spiritual fulfillment.

Focus on Saint Bernand preaching on the Virgin, Maurice Denis

This work by Maurice Denis plunges us into the heart of an intense spirituality, where devotion becomes almost palpable. In an atmosphere of mystical serenity, a religious man stands before the Virgin, face bowed and hands open in a gesture of fervent prayer.

The Virgin, haloed in light and crowned, gently stands out, holding the Child in her arms.

The composition, deliberately simple, plays on subtle contrasts between the earthy hues of the walls and the luminous radiance emanating from the divine figure, like a glow from another world.

Denis, true to his style, opts for soft lines and pure forms, reducing details to better capture the essential. Here, it's not so much the architecture of the background that's important, but the atmosphere of contemplation that emanates from this silent encounter.

The arches and columns suggest a sacred place, but remain deliberately sketchy, leaving plenty of room for the intensity of the exchange between the religious and the apparition.

In this uncluttered setting, every element is charged with symbolism, every gesture and every look reinforcing the scene's sacred aura.

The omnipresent light becomes a character in its own right. It envelops the Virgin in a soft, almost ethereal clarity, creating a strong contrast with the religious figure in shadow.

It's this opposition between divine radiance and earthly gloom that magnifies the moment, like a silent invitation to enter this space of grace. For Denis, this light transcends mere aesthetics: it symbolizes the link between the human and the divine, a luminous bridge to the beyond.

Here, Maurice Denis delivers much more than a religious scene; he captures a universal emotion, a moment of intense faith. With his simplified approach and refusal of pure realism, he invites us to feel the very essence of devotion.

True to the principles of the Nabis, the artist moves away from simple representation to touch the invisible, the spiritual, the inexpressible. The painting becomes a space for meditation, where beauty becomes prayer, where art becomes a path to the sacred.

Denis reminds us that painting can be a silent communion, a place where emotion reveals itself in all its depth.

Maurice Denis and the Nabis - At the roots of modern art

Maurice Denis' imprint on his period

Maurice Denis' imprint on the Nabi movement was a founding pillar, infusing this artistic avant-garde with a vision in which the sacred and the everyday intertwine in harmony.

An emblematic figure of the group, Denis helped establish a symbolist and spiritual aesthetic, inspiring his contemporaries to see painting as an inner quest as much as an act of creation.

His approach is characterized by a particular sensitivity to color and composition, where each work becomes a place of meditation and contemplation.

Alongside Paul Sérusier, Édouard Vuillard and Pierre Bonnard, he forged a new artistic identity, based on the liberation of form and the celebration of the flat surface.

Through his theories and writings, Denis illuminates the stylistic vein of the Nabi movement, affirming the importance of a painting that transcends mere imitation to become a personal, almost mystical expression.

Today, his influence still resonates, reminding us of the boldness of an artist who knew how to give the Nabis their own language, a visual language nourished by symbolism, spirituality and a profound respect for the creative act.

Recognizing the artist's signature

Not all works by Maurice Denis 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 painting by or after Lhermitte, 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 wish to sell your work of art, our specialists will also be on hand to help you sell it at the best possible price, taking into account market trends.