The value of Joseph Chinard's works and sculptures

If you own a work by or after the artist Joseph Chinard, and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers will offer you their appraisal services. Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your work, and provide you with a precise estimate of its current market value. Thereafter, if you wish to sell your work, we will guide you towards the best possible arrangement to obtain an optimal price.

Rating and value of the artist Joseph Chinard 

A neoclassical sculptor who enjoyed a certain renown under both the Ancien Régime and the 1st Empire, Joseph Chinard produced prodigious terracotta ronde-bosse and medals.  The prices at which his works sell range from €300 to €720 000 ; In 2023, a statuary group in Carrara marble depicting a fame amidst arms sold at auction for €120 000.

Order of value from a simple work to the most prestigious 

A sculptor's style and technique

Joseph Chinard is particularly well known for his sculpted busts. Since Antiquity, the marble sculpted bust has immortalized the most illustrious men, and consists of representing a figure on a pedestal, from the front, naked or clothed in drapery. This practice was revived in the last third of the 18th century by the neoclassical movement, to which Joseph Chinard belonged. Joseph Chinard's technique is remarkable. The terracottas reveal great finesse of execution. Expressive faces and an eye for detail have made the artist famous. In addition to his many portraits, Chinard produced statuary groups, often allegorical, such as La République in 1794 in terracotta.

Who is Joseph Chinard ?

Joseph Chinard (1756-1813) began his artistic apprenticeship at the Lyon drawing school, before joining Barthélémy Blaise's sculpture workshop. He perfected his technique in Rome between 1784 and 1789, while sharpening his artistic eye. He stayed in the Italian capital because he was called upon to carry out commissions for the church of Saint-Paul, in particular the sculptures of the four evangelists and the sumptuous pendants of the dome. In 1796, he was awarded the prestigious First Prize at the Académie Saint Luc in Rome. He took a stand in favor of the French Revolution in 1789, and aware of the need to renew his iconographic repertoire, he went off on a different tangent from his sculptor counterparts, favoring allegorical compositions, which were particularly appreciated under the First Empire. In 1791, however, he was punctually imprisoned by order of the Pope, notably for two subversive works: Jupiter striking down the Aristocracy and Génie de la Raison foulant aux pieds de la Superstition.

How did he mark his period ?

In the context of L'empire the busts sculpted by Joseph Chinard take on symbolic significance, such as placing Napoleon and his wife in the wake of the Roman emperors. Created in 1805, the portrait of Empress Josephine features the various symbols of official imperial iconography, such as the eagle, while her bosom is highlighted by a drape bearing the imperial bee. He sculpts the portraits of several " marvelous " the most famous of whom is Juliette Récamier. A fabulous terracotta portrait of Juliette Récamier sold for €26,000 in 2013. In 1808, he was awarded the Grand Gold Medal at the Salon de Paris then in 1809 he became a member of the Société littéraire de Lyon.

The Consulate period, conducive to artistic creation, saw many commissions flourish for Joseph Chinard. From 1798 to 1812, he exhibited his works at the prestigious Parisian Salons. Favored by Napoleon, the commissions he received increased significantly, in this case portraits of the Bonaparte family. He also worked on the decor for the Carrousel triumphal arch in Paris in 1812. In addition, he partly decorated the Bordeaux triumphal arch, and created a splendid statue for the fountain on Place de la Douane in 1809.

How to recognize Joseph Chinard's signature ?

The artist almost systematically signed " Chinard de Lyon " in homage to the school that gave him his first teachings.

How to find out the value of a work by Joseph Chinard?

If you happen to own a sculpture by Joseph or after himself, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal via our form on our website. A member of auctie's 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 are considering selling your work, you will also be accompanied by our specialists in order to benefit from alternatives for selling it at the best possible price.