Rating and value of paintings by René Duvillier

 If you own a work by or after the artist René Duvillier, and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers will offer you their appraisal services.

Our specialists will work to carry out a free appraisal of your work, and provide you with an accurate estimate of its value on the current market.

Then, should you wish to sell your work, we will direct you to the best possible arrangement to obtain the optimum price.  

René Duvillier artist's rating and value

Considered one of the most famous abstract artists of the 20th century, René Duvillier leaves behind an artistic identity of his own. This legacy consists mainly of large-format oils on canvas.

At present, the prices of his works are rising at auctioneers' gavels, his stock is on the rise.

His canvases and other works are particularly prized, especially by French buyers, and the price at which they sell on the art market ranges from €30 to €12,000, a considerable delta but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to Duvillier's works.

In 2021, a monochrome composition entitled Luminaire sur la mer, and dating from 1963 sold for €12,000 in 2024, whereas it was estimated at between €3,000 and €5,000.

Order of value from a simple work to the most prestigious 

The life of René Duvillier

René Duvillier was born in 1929 in Châteauroux. He trained at the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts in Paris. Early on, he turned to abstraction, exploring color and gesture. The artist is best known for his adherence to lyrical abstraction, which profoundly marks his work.

His career can be described as free. He pays particular attention to materials, but also to the effects of transparency. Duvillier is strongly influenced by post-war abstraction and informal art, although he retains an instinctive approach to painting. This testifies to a great sensitivity to movement and light. 

The artist adopts a physical relationship to the canvas and favors large formats - influenced on this point by abstract expressionism, while retaining a certain organization in space.

He settled in Brittany, where he drew strong inspiration from the sea and wind, while remaining attached to Paris, where he exhibited regularly. He also travels to North Africa, where he discovers new lights and vast horizons, which enrich his palette. 

His gaze is turned towards the elements (many natural forces, flows and vibrations as in lyrical abstraction), but also towards the energy of the world, which he expresses through powerful, gestural compositions.

He devoted himself fully to painting, developing a body of work that reveals a fascination for movement and space. 

Duvillier is thus distinguished by a trajectory marked by experimentation, which combines freedom of gesture and depth of color. Like many artists of his time, his work oscillates between strength and sensitivity. 

He blends influences, translating the impetus of the world with great intensity, but also establishing himself as one of the most remarkable abstract painters of his time.

The life of René Duvillier

René Duvillier was born in 1929 in Châteauroux. He trained at the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts in Paris. Early on, he turned to abstraction, exploring color and gesture. The artist is best known for his adherence to lyrical abstraction, which profoundly marks his work.

His career can be described as free. He pays particular attention to materials, but also to the effects of transparency. Duvillier is strongly influenced by post-war abstraction and informal art, although he retains an instinctive approach to painting. This testifies to a great sensitivity to movement and light. 

The artist adopts a physical relationship to the canvas and favors large formats - influenced on this point by abstract expressionism, while retaining a certain organization in space.

He settled in Brittany, where he drew strong inspiration from the sea and wind, while remaining attached to Paris, where he exhibited regularly. He also travels to North Africa, where he discovers new lights and vast horizons, which enrich his palette. 

His gaze is turned towards the elements (many natural forces, flows and vibrations as in lyrical abstraction), but also towards the energy of the world, which he expresses through powerful, gestural compositions.

He devoted himself fully to painting, developing a body of work that reveals a fascination for movement and space. 

Duvillier is thus distinguished by a trajectory marked by experimentation, which combines freedom of gesture and depth of color. Like many artists of his time, his work oscillates between strength and sensitivity. 

He blends influences, translating the impetus of the world with great intensity, but also establishing himself as one of the most remarkable abstract painters of his time.

Focus on Marine, René Duvillier

Marine by René Duvillier is characterized by a free approach to color and movement. The canvas is imbued with bluish and grayish hues, conveying the strength and instability of the sea. The artist is best known for his abstract compositions, which capture the energy of the elements with great intensity. 

This work can be described as vibrant. Duvillier pays particular attention to chromatic variations, but also to the interplay of materials. He superimposes layers of paint, creating effects of depth and fluidity.

The influence of lyrical abstraction is very present, even if his gesture remains personal. This testifies to a desire to translate movement rather than form. 

The artist adopts an ample, spontaneous touch - influenced on this point by the large formats of the post-war period, while retaining a certain harmony in composition. 

 His technique is mastered both in the application of pigments and in working with textures, he balances contrasts with subtlety, enabling him to restore a sense of movement and space.

For this canvas, he favors deep shades and transparent effects, giving the sea a presence that is both powerful and evanescent.  

His gaze is turned towards natural forces (lots of water, wind and light, as in his other seascapes), but also towards the raw energy of the landscape, where he seeks to capture the essence more than the representation. 

He also works on other abstract subjects, but seascapes occupy an important place in his work. They reveal Duvillier's fascination with infinity and movement. 

The artist is thus distinguished by an instinctive approach to painting, which combines spontaneity of gesture with a search for depth. Like many painters of lyrical abstraction, he is the author of a body of work that oscillates between matter and light. 

He mixes influences, translating the energy of the world with great freedom, but also establishing himself as one of the abstract painters most sensitive to the force of the elements.

René Duvillier's imprint on his period  

René Duvillier stands out as a key figure in lyrical abstraction. His work is characterized by a constant search for movement and material. The artist is best known for his ability to translate the energy of the world through free, instinctive gestures.  

His imprint can be described as singular. He pays particular attention to natural forces, but also to the vibrations of color.

Duvillier is strongly influenced by post-war abstraction and abstract expressionism, even as he develops a personal language. This testifies to a desire to go beyond established currents to explore a more intuitive style of painting. 

The artist adopts a physical approach to the canvas and favors large formats - influenced on this point by the gestural research of his time, while retaining a certain rigor in the balance of masses.

His work is part of a period in which abstract painting seeks to express the vital impulse and primordial elements. He contributes to renewing the relationship between color and space, developing a vision in which nature becomes an inner force rather than a figurative motif. 

 He also works on themes related to landscapes, seascapes and telluric forces, which reveal in him a sensibility close to pictorial lyricism.

 Duvillier is thus distinguished by an approach that combines spontaneity and mastery, giving his work an essential place in the landscape of lyrical abstraction. Like many artists of this generation, he is the author of a painting that oscillates between emotion and construction. 

He blends influences, capturing the energy of the world with remarkable intensity, but also establishing himself as one of the most authentic abstract painters of his time, alongside Debré, Hartung or Mathieu.

Recognizing the artist's signature

René Duvillier very often signs his works, most of the time at the bottom of the painting, in a color that contrasts with the background.

Knowing the value of a work 

If you happen to own a work by or after René Duvillier, don't hesitate to request a free valuation using our 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, not forgetting to send you ad hoc information about it.

If you're thinking of selling your work, our specialists will also help you find alternatives to sell it at the best possible price, taking into account market trends.