Cote and value of works, drawings, paintings by Alfred Manessier
Key takeaways
- A leading figure in expressive abstraction, Alfred Manessier (1911–1991) has seen his works fetch up to €340,000 at auction.
- His paintings sell for between €110 and €340,000, while his prints range from €15 to €2,000.
- A French artist known for his church stained-glass windows, his abstract landscapes, and his political activism denouncing the wars in Algeria and Vietnam.
If you own a work by or after the artist Alfred Manessier and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers will guide you. Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your work, and provide you with a precise estimate of its value on the current market. Then, if you wish to sell your work, we will guide you towards the best possible arrangement to obtain the optimum price.
Artist's rating and value
A major figure of abstraction, Alfred Manessier has established himself as an indisputable player on the art market. Highly prized and sought-after in auction rooms, some of his works can fetch hundreds of thousands of euros, as evidenced by his oil on canvas Turris Davidica adjudged €340,000 in 2007.
Order of value from the most basic to the most prestigious
Technique used | Result |
|---|---|
Estampes | From €15 to €2,000 |
Upholstery | From €680 to €5,000 |
Drawing - watercolor | From €140 to €49,000 |
Painting | From €110 to €340,000 |
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The artist's style and technique
Manessier's output is highly varied, and goes beyond the sacred art for which he is famous. After the war, he returned to his origins with abstract landscape paintings and concentrated on lithography, used as cartoons for his tapestries.
Identified as expressive abstraction, Manessier's works are characterized by a bold use of color, dynamic gestures, great research into the representation of light and space, and the presence of spiritual references. Thus, the artist's work reflects a deep sensitivity and a quest for personal artistic expression.
The life of Alfred Manessier
Alfred Manessier is a French artist born in 1911. Particularly interested in painting, he trained at the École des Beaux-Arts in Amiens and then in Paris. In 1932, he discovered and was immediately fascinated by the art of Piet Mondrian, founder of Neoplasticism. This discovery marked a turning point in his career as well as a new awareness.
From 1937, Alfred Manessier frequented avant-garde artists and created monumental decorations under the direction of the Delaunays, who initiated a very particular abstract movement, dubbed "orphism" by Guillaume Apollinaire. Initially influenced by the Cubist and Surrealist movements, his painting became resolutely abstract in reaction to Nazi censorship, while German demagogues regarded abstract expressionism as "degenerate art".
He was also a member of the De Stijl group, bringing together various abstract painters.
After the war, Alfred Manessier's fame grew thanks to the success of some of his paintings, acquired by the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nantes in 1947. He then devoted himself to creating stained-glass windows for churches, developing his interest in sacred art. His stained-glass creations in France and Europe are very much in vogue, notably the stained-glass windows of the Saint Sépulcre d'Abbeville in 1993.
L'empreinte d'Alfred Manessier sur son époque
Although his art is marked by thaumaturgical and ecclesiastical belief, abstraction and nature, Manessier refuses to be labeled a religious painter. Towards the end of his career, he produced politically engaged paintings, denouncing the violence of the Algerian and Vietnam wars, and advocating social peace, in a dynamic protest movement. His paintings, often entitled Hommage, contributed to his recognition by the general public.
His signature
Not all Alfred Manessier's works are signed.
Although there are variations, here is a first example of his signature:
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If you happen to own a work by Alfred Manessier, don't delay in requesting a free appraisal using the form on our website. A member of our team will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the value of your work, as well as any relevant information about it. If you're thinking of selling your work, our specialists will also be on hand to help you find alternatives for selling it at the best possible price.
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Frequently asked questions
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Who is Alfred Manessier, and what is his artistic background?Alfred Manessier (1911–1993) was a leading figure in French abstract art and sacred art. Trained at the Beaux-Arts schools in Amiens and Paris, he was influenced by Mondrian and was part of the Orphist movement alongside the Delaunays. After World War II, he devoted himself primarily to creating stained-glass windows for churches while also developing an expressive abstract style characterized by a bold use of color, dynamic brushwork, and an exploration of light.
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What are the estimated values of Alfred Manessier's works based on their medium?Estimates vary considerably depending on the medium: prints range from €15 to €2,000, drawings and watercolors from €140 to €49,000, tapestries from €680 to €5,000, and paintings from €110 to €340,000 for the most prestigious works, as evidenced by the sale of “Turris Davidica” for €340,000 in 2007.
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How do you authenticate and appraise a work by Alfred Manessier?To authenticate and appraise a work by Manessier, contact Auctie's to request a free, no-obligation estimate. Our state-certified auctioneers and experts will analyze your item and provide you with an accurate estimate within 48 hours, along with detailed information about the work.
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Why is now the right time to sell a work by Alfred Manessier?Manessier's works remain highly sought after at auction due to his status as a leading figure in abstract art. His paintings and compositions—particularly those related to sacred art or expressive abstraction—are in high demand on the art market, making this an opportune time to sell.
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How does the sale of a work of art work at Auctie's?As a licensed auction house, Auctie's supports you from the appraisal stage through to the final sale. After a free, no-obligation appraisal, our specialists will guide you toward the best sales strategy to achieve the highest possible price, keeping you informed at every step of the process.
