Rating and value of sculptures, bronzes and drawings by Charles Malfray

If you own a work by or after Charles Malfray, 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.

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Rating and value of Charles Malfray's works      

Charles Malfray produced unique sculptures. Now, prices for his creations can rise considerably under the auctioneer's hammer. His sculptures are particularly prized, by buyers from all over the world.

The price at which they sell on the art market ranges from €10 to €20,000, at the moment, a consequent gap but one that says a lot about the value that can be attributed to the works of Charles Malfray, whose output is very abundant.

In 2015, his bronze sculpture Femme assise aux bras levés, sold for €15,000, originally estimated at €3,000 to €4,000.

The upside potential for Charles Malfray's works on the auction market is therefore quite significant. Animal sculpture, particularly in bronze, has been very successful of late, setting auction records.

Order of value from a simple work to the most prestigious

Style and technique of artist Charles Malfray

Charles Malfray is a sculptor who has combined technique and emotion in his artistic approach. His work is distinguished by an in-depth exploration of materials, notably marble, stone and bronze, although the latter has been his preferred medium.

He not only left his mark on monumental sculpture but also produced drawings, often preparatory sketches, that reflect his creative process and reflection on form.

His work, particularly influenced by the expression of movement and inner energy, is part of a stylistic quest subtly balanced between tradition and modernity.

In fact, Malfray was inspired by ancient and medieval statuary, while bringing a contemporary interpretation marked by unique expressiveness and pared-down forms. His art evokes the legacy of masters such as Bourdelle or Rodin, while creating an aesthetic all his own, marked by an almost palpable sensitivity.

His sculptures, often centered on human figures, are imbued with a dramatic tension that expresses both the strength and fragility of existence.

Each work is carefully crafted, each detail carrying a strong emotional charge, translating a deeply human artistic vision.

Through masterful minimalism, Malfray succeeds in extracting the very essence of his subjects, offering works that captivate with their sobriety and symbolic power.

Stylistically, Charles Malfray follows in the footsteps of several influential artists of modern sculpture, while developing a personal aesthetic.

He is close to Antoine Bourdelle, whose powerful, expressive approach to form resonates with Malfray's. Both manage to translate deep emotions through harmonious volumes and timeless elegance.

Auguste Rodin is also a key reference for Malfray, particularly in his ability to capture the vitality and complexity of human figures.

While Rodin often plays on drama and theatricality, Malfray takes a more introspective and delicate approach, focusing on the intimacy of gesture. 

Aristide Maillol, with his pared-down sculptural language and simplified forms, also finds an echo in Malfray's work. Both artists share a sensibility for fluid lines and a representation of the body that combines strength and gentleness.

The influence of Joseph Bernard is palpable, as both Malfray and Bernard seek to extract the essence of their subjects through stylized forms, where beauty lies in simplicity.

Thus, Charles Malfray stands at the crossroads of these major influences, creating a unique style that, while inspired by tradition, transcends convention to establish a deep connection with human experience.

The career of Charles Malfray

Charles Malfray (1887-1940), a French sculptor, was born in Orléans. After an initial local artistic training, he entered the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he trained under the great masters of sculpture.

Rapidly, his talent was recognized, and he received several awards, including the prestigious Blumenthal Prize in 1919, which enabled him to pursue his artistic quest in complete freedom.

It was in his studio, at the heart of the École de Paris, that he developed his own artistic language, combining classical tradition and modern daring.

By the 1920s, he had established himself as a key figure in French sculpture, exhibiting regularly at the Salon des Artistes français and at the Tuileries.

His works, marked by a profound humanity, are distinguished by their expressive force and technical mastery, often inspired by the dramas of the First World War, in which he participated as a soldier.

In 1937, at the Paris International Exhibition, Malfray received a gold medal, reinforcing his reputation with the public and art critics alike. His influence extended beyond France, with exhibitions abroad making him a respected figure in the art world.

Parallel to his career, Malfray became a teacher at the Académie Ranson, where he passed on his skills and artistic vision to the younger generation.

Engaged and passionate, he continued to create until his untimely death in 1940, leaving behind him an artistic legacy marked by the depth and power of his sculptures.

The Orleans archives - back to Malfray

Malfray's way of working

At the beginning of the 20th century, as artistic and historical upheavals multiplied, Charles Malfray was part of a dynamic renewal of sculpture, where artists sought to reinvent forms and express a new sensibility.

Influenced by both classical tradition and the urgency of the modern world, Malfray manages to infuse his works with a rare emotional power, marked by the tension between human greatness and fragility.

In this period of transformation, sculpture reinvented itself, and Malfray, like his contemporaries, established himself as an innovator.

His distinctive style, characterized by bold volumes and a perfect mastery of the human anatomy, enabled him to capture the very essence of his subjects.

Whether depicting heroic figures or dramatic scenes, his sculptures bear witness to a profound expressiveness and a constant search for inner truth.

Exhibiting regularly at the Paris Salons, Malfray distinguished himself particularly in the 1920s and 1930s, a period when French sculpture was enjoying a new lease of life.

His works, imbued with an undeniable emotional intensity, draw on his personal experience of war, bringing a poignant dimension to his creations.

Although Malfray draws inspiration from masters such as Rodin and Bourdelle, he develops his own language, marked by raw expressiveness and a quest for the essential. The materials he uses, such as bronze and stone, reinforce the powerful, tactile character of his works.

His forms, though often stylized, retain a strong connection to reality, reflecting the concerns of his time, between tragedy and hope.

Through his art, Charles Malfray perfectly illustrates this period when sculpture was evolving to explore more intense emotions and a more intimate quest for the human condition, leaving his mark on the history of modern sculpture.

Focus on Femme s'essuyant un pied, Charles Malfray, Centre Pompidou

Femme s'essuyant un pied by Charles Malfray, preserved at the Centre Pompidou, perfectly embodies the simplicity and intensity that characterize his works.

Malfray, with obvious technical mastery, captures here a moment of intimacy stripped of all artifice, where the female figure concentrates on an everyday gesture with moving sobriety.

This bronze sculpture is distinguished by the fluidity of its forms and the precision of its details. The natural posture of the kneeling woman is sculpted with remarkable finesse, every curve of the body reflecting Malfray's ability to capture the very essence of his subject.

The simplicity of the scene's realism in no way detracts from the emotional depth of the work, where every detail, from the folds of the skin to the harmonious volumes of the body, testifies to the artist's sensitivity.

Malfray excels at translating the tension between strength and gentleness, and in this work, he manages to make the tranquility of gesture palpable while maintaining an understated elegance. The clean lines and sculptural volumes create an impression of calm and restraint, reinforcing the intimate aspect of the scene.

This sculpture, through the precision of its execution and the serenity it exudes, demonstrates Malfray's ability to capture moments of everyday life with particular sensitivity.

Femme s'essuyant un pied illustrates both the delicacy of gesture and the beauty of the human body, in a composition that combines sobriety and strength. Through this work, Malfray demonstrates his ability to bring his subjects to life, while anchoring them in a timeless modernity. 

Recognize Charles Malfray's signature

Charles Malfray doesn't always sign his works. If you think you own one, it's best to have it appraised.

Knowing the value of a work 

If you happen to own a Charles Malfray creation or think you might, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal using our form on our website.

A member of our team of experts and chartered auctioneers will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the market value of your piece, as well as ad hoc information about it.

If you wish to sell your property, you will also be accompanied by our specialists in order to benefit from alternatives for selling it at the best possible price, taking into account the inclinations of the market.