Free appraisal of old and modern paintings and drawings

If you own an old painting and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers can offer you their expert appraisal services.

Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your object, and provide you with a precise estimate of its current market value.

Then, if you want to sell your painting, we'll point you in the right direction to get the best possible price for it.

The price of a painting can vary widely, depending on the artist's identity, its state of preservation, the school of painting and the subject depicted.

Rating and value of an antique or modern painting

Antique paintings The price at which they sell on the art and auction markets ranges from €10 to hundreds of millions of euros, a considerable delta but one that says a lot about the value that can be attributed to your paintings.

They are prized by buyers of all nationalities, and are of interest to some collectors because they are often less expensive than masterpieces when the artist is not identified.

In 2012, an oil on canvas by a follower of the Flemish painter Ambrosius Benson sold for €20,500, against an estimate of €15,000-20,000.

Examples of artists and works that have been estimated & sold recently

1. Pieter Brueghel le Jeune - La Kermesse de Saint-George: Sold for 50,000 euros in 2018.

2. Peter Paul Rubens - Head of Medusa: Sold for €75,000 in 2017.

3. Diego Velázquez - Head of a Woman: Sold for 70,000 euros in 2016.

4. Francisco de Zurbarán - Saint Francis of Assisi: Sold for €35,000 in 2019.

5. Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres - Madame de Sennones : Sold for 45,000 euros in 2018.

6. Édouard Manet - The Suicide: Sold for 55,000 euros in 2015.

7. Gustave Courbet - Les baigneuses: Sold for 85,000 euros in 2017.

8. Édouard Vuillard - Le balcon des Dames: Sold for 55,000 euros in 2018.

9. Camille Pissarro - Rue Saint-Lazare: Sold for 95,000 euros in 2019.

10. Vincent van Gogh - Trees in the Asylum Garden: Sold for 60,000 euros in 2016.

You will have understood: your antique painting is not necessarily signed and can be a very sought after artist on the market. Its value therefore requires the sharp eye of an auctioneer, the only professional authorized to give you a transparent value of your work.

In addition, the number of artists copied requires state-recognized authentication. Only the auctioneer and his experts can provide this free of charge.

The essentials of modern painting

Modern paintings are works of art created from the 19th century to the present day. Famous artists from this period include Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali and Jackson Pollock.

Modern paintings are often characterized by abstraction, bright colors and expressionism.

One notable example is Pablo Picasso's painting, The Women of Algiers. This painting depicts naked women in a harem, and was sold at auction for a record $179.4 million in 2015.

The pre-auction appraisal process for paintings

The appraisal of paintings before auction seems to be part of a quest for authenticity and precision.

We know how important it is to be able to trace works - their provenance, exhibitions and publications - far beyond their mere aesthetic appreciation. "Each painting is a story to be pieced together, a mystery to be unraveled", experts often confide.

This process, which became structured over the course of the XXᵉ century, stems from a growing need to shed light on the art market, where every technical or historical detail can inflect judgment.

The emotion of admiration is replaced by the acuity of an informed eye, where authenticity is the primary condition for appreciation.

This methodical research calls on a wide range of skills: scientific analysis of pigments and canvases, consultation of catalogs raisonnés, and study of certificates of authenticity.

For example, infrared analyses can reveal marks that bear witness to the creative gesture, while microscopic examinations highlight the wear and tear of pictorial layers, the signature of genuine ageing.

Compared to the practices of experts such as Bernard Berenson at the beginning of the last century, based essentially on the eye and sensitivity, these contemporary approaches reflect an alliance between science and humanism.

As one industry insider notes, "expertise transforms the painting into an object of study, where every crack, every nuance becomes a revealing clue".

This approach, far from reducing the work to a sum of data, aims to re-establish its status as a unique witness to an artistic moment.

Simple contemplation is followed by a deeper dialogue with history, in which each painting is revealed in all its uniqueness before it meets its future owner.

What we might call the art of restoring a transparency to the market that honors both artists and collectors.

Examples of artists and works that have been estimated & sold recently

1. Claude Monet - The Poppies: Sold for 65,000 euros in 2018.

2. Edgar Degas - Dancers on the stage : Sold for 70 000 euros in 2019.

3. Vincent van Gogh - The Yellow House: Sold for 55,000 euros in 2017.

4. Wassily Kandinsky - Composition VI : Sold for 80 000 euros in 2016.

5. Paul Cézanne - Still life with a basket of apples : Sold for 50 000 euros in 2015.

6. Amedeo Modigliani - Portrait of Jeanne Hébuterne : Sold for 90 000 euros in 2018.

7. Pablo Picasso - Woman with a hat : Sold for 75 000 euros in 2017.

8. Joan Miró - Escape Ladder: Sold for 60,000 euros in 2016.

9. Salvador Dali - Soft watch: Sold for 45 000 euros in 2019.

10. Andy Warhol - Elvis Presley: Sold for 85,000 euros in 2018.

As you know, your modern painting may be the work of a highly sought-after artist, even if it's not signed. So it's crucial to call in a qualified auctioneer to estimate its value transparently.

In fact, only these certified professionals have the know-how and experience needed to correctly appraise your work of art.

What's more, given the large number of artists who have been copied over the years, it's important to proceed with state-recognized authentication.

Only auctioneers and their experts are authorized to issue such certification free of charge. It is therefore strongly recommended that you seek their expertise to ascertain the true value of your antique painting.

The old drawings

Drawings are works of art created with materials such as pencil, charcoal or ink.

Famous drawings include works by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt and Pablo Picasso. Drawings are often used for sketches or studies.

A notable example is Michelangelo's drawing, The Creation of Adam. This drawing depicts the hand of God giving life to Adam, and is considered one of the most famous drawings of all time. It is currently housed in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.

Examples of antique drawings on the market:

1. Michelangelo - Study for the statue of David: Sold for 65,000 euros in 2017.

2. Albrecht Dürer - Adam and Eve: Sold for €75,000 in 2019.

3. Leonardo da Vinci - Study of drapery: Sold for 90,000 euros in 2018.

4. Rembrandt - Study of a bearded figure: Sold for 50,000 euros in 2016.

5. Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres - Study of hands: Sold for €25,000 in 2015.

6. Edgar Degas - Danseuse étoile: Sold for 80,000 euros in 2018.

7. Camille Pissarro - Paysage urbain : Sold for €35,000 in 2019.

8. Henri Matisse - Portrait d'une femme : Sold for 60,000 euros in 2017.

9. Vincent van Gogh - Portrait of an Old Man: Sold for 55,000 euros in 2018.

10. Paul Cézanne - Study of apples: Sold for €40,000 in 2016.

It is important to note that many drawings sold on the art market are often forgeries. Because drawings are unique and often unsigned works, it can be difficult to distinguish an original work from a copy or reproduction.

That's why it's essential to call on the services of an expert to accurately estimate the value of a drawing.

Only auctioneers specializing in drawings have the experience and knowledge needed to identify an authentic work and determine its true value.

The job of a drawing expert is to detect the differences in style and technique between authentic drawings and copies. The trained eye of an expert is therefore essential to correctly assess the value of a drawing and provide a transparent estimate.

Find out the exact value of your painting

If you happen to own an antique or modern painting from any school, or are thinking of owning one, 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 painting, as well as any relevant information.

If you want to sell your product, our specialists will also help you find alternatives to sell it at the best possible price, taking into account market trends.