Rating and value of Roberto Matta's paintings and drawings
Key takeaways
- Roberto Matta, a Chilean surrealist painter (1911–2002), is a major figure in the art market, with oil-on-canvas works valued between 300 and 3.4 million euros.
- His works are characterized by vivid colors, fine lines, and complex compositions developed through an innovative technique called “Psychological Morphologies.”
- A free appraisal is available to assess the current market value of your works prior to an optimal auction sale.
If you own a work by the artist Roberto Matta or based on his work 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. Thereafter, if you wish to sell your work, we will direct you to the best possible arrangement to obtain the optimum price.
Artist's rating and value
A surrealist painter, Roberto Matta has established himself as a major figure on the art market. His works are highly prized by collectors. The only works available are oils on canvas, which sell for between €10 and €1,198,490 - a relatively wide range, but one that says a lot about the price these works can fetch. For example, a work by Roberto Matta can fetch millions of euros at auction, as evidenced by his oil on canvas La révolte des contraires, dating from 1944, which sold for €3,443,440 in 2012.
Order of value from basic to prestigious
Technique used | Result | Estamp - multiple | From €10 to €18,700 |
|---|---|
Drawing - watercolor | From €230 to €285,000 |
Sculpture - volume | From €230 to €285,000 |
Oil on canvas | From €300 to €3,443,440 |
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Style and technique of artist Roberto Matta
Roberto Matta is a Chilean surrealist artist, who produced drawings, prints, paintings and sculptures.
He is responsible for a substantial output. His works are characterized by bright colors, fine lines and rather complex compositions.
The career of Roberto Matta
Roberto Matta (1911-2002), was a Surrealist artist born in Santiago, Chile.
He first studied architecture in his home town, and moved to France in 1933, to work in Le Corbusier's studio. He traveled to Spain, Scandinavia and France, where he met René Magritte, a leading exponent of the Surrealist movement. Encouraged by Dali, he also met André Breton, who encouraged him to take the surrealist path. At the time, he rejected the rationalism promoted by Le Corbusier.
He developed a new technical process consisting of tracing the different spaces of his composition with a paint-impregnated cloth rag. He calls the series produced using this technique Psychological morphologies. During the war, he moved to the United States, where he exhibited his work. It was there that he produced his first works with phosphorescent pigments, combined with the study of chemical processes on the fourth dimension and relativistic physics.
In 1947, his first monographic exhibition took place in Paris. The following year, Breton expelled him from the Surrealist group on suspicion of having had an affair with Achille Gorky's wife.
At the end of his life, he moved to Italy, where he died in 2002.
Roberto Matta's legacy
Roberto Matta's works are characterized by perpetual experimentation around Surrealism. Today, he is not widely known by the general public but appreciated and sought after by collectors.
Although some of his paintings or drawings are held in museums in France and around the world, private collectors play a big role in preserving his work.
His signature
Not all of Roberto Matta's works are signed.
If you think you own one, it's best to have it appraised to be sure of your painting's originality.
Expertise your property
If you own a Roberto Matta work, feel free to request a free appraisal by filling in our online form. A member of our team of experts and licensed auctioneers will contact you to provide an estimate of the market value of your work.
If you are considering selling your work, our specialists will also guide you through the various alternatives available to obtain the best possible price, taking into account market trends and the specific features of each work.
Estimate in less than 24h
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Frequently asked questions
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Who is Roberto Matta, and what is his artistic background?Roberto Matta (1911–2002) is a major Chilean Surrealist artist on the art market. Trained as an architect, he moved to France in 1933 and met key figures of Surrealism such as André Breton and Salvador Dalí. He developed an innovative technique called “Psychological Morphologies” and continued to experiment with Surrealism throughout his career, notably by combining phosphorescent pigments with the study of relativistic physics.
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What is the price range for works by Roberto Matta?Roberto Matta’s works vary considerably depending on the medium. Prints sell for between €10 and €18,700, watercolor drawings and sculptures for between €230 and €285,000, while oil-on-canvas paintings—his major works—fetch prices ranging from €300 to over €3 million. For example, his oil on canvas *La révolte des contraires* (1944) sold for €3,443,440 in 2012.
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How do you authenticate a work by Roberto Matta?To authenticate a work by Roberto Matta, we recommend that you request a free appraisal from Auctie's. Our experts and state-certified auctioneers will conduct a thorough appraisal of your artwork with no obligation. This step is particularly important because some of Matta’s works are unsigned, and only a professional appraisal can guarantee authenticity.
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How does the appraisal process work at Auctie's?The appraisal is completely free and non-binding. Simply fill out our online form with the details of your artwork. A member of our team of experts and licensed auctioneers will contact you to provide an accurate estimate of the market value as soon as possible. If you’re considering selling, our specialists will guide you toward the best options to get the highest price.
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How do I sell a work by Roberto Matta through Auctie's?Auctie's, an auction house, supports you every step of the way: free appraisal, advice on market trends, and optimized bidding tailored to the specific characteristics of your artwork. After the initial appraisal, our specialists will guide you toward the sales approach best suited to maximize the final price of your painting, drawing, or sculpture.
