Rating and value of bronze sculptures by Agathon Léonard
Key takeaways
- Bronze sculptures by Agathon Léonard (1841–1923) sell for between €900 and €78,530, with a record price of €496,780 set in 2013 for "Le vampire."
- Gilded bronzes command the highest prices (up to €496,780), while bas-reliefs remain affordable at prices ranging from €90 to €400.
- A renowned Belgian Art Nouveau artist, Léonard mastered bronze casting in the Renaissance style and also worked with Sèvres porcelain, marble, and ivory with remarkable attention to detail.
If you own a work by or after Agathon Léonard, 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. Then, if you wish to sell your work, we will guide you towards the best possible arrangement to obtain the optimum price.
Rating and value of the artist Agathon Léonard
The artist Agathon Léonard leaves in his wake a very singular body of work, in the Art Nouveau movement. A talented sculptor, he produced numerous gilded bronzes that were particularly prized at auction. Prices for his works are now skyrocketing under auctioneers' gavels. They are particularly prized by French and European buyers. The price at which they sell on the art market ranges from €900 to €78,530, a considerable delta but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to Agathon Léonard's bronzes. In 2013, a gilded bronze entitled Le vampire - la chauve-souris, dating from 1903 sold for €496,780 while it was estimated at between €70,970 and €94,620.
Order of value from a simple work to the most prestigious
Technique used | Result |
|---|---|
Low - relief | From €90 to €400 |
Bronze | From €90 to €300,000 |
Golden bronze | From €180 to €496,780 |
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Style and technique of artist Agathon Léonard
Agathon Léonard succeeds in reviving Renaissance bronze mastery while working with other materials such as porcelain, marble or ivory. His work is part of the Art Nouveau style, and the influence of his Belgian origins and the art of the North is generally very visible in his work. The artist shows great attention to detail, often taking up the iconography of the dancer and perfectly mastering the technique of draping in sculpture.
Agathon Léonard, his life, his work
Agathon Léonard (1841-1923), a naturalized French-Belgian artist, became an important figure in the 19th-century art world. Born in France, he studied first at the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Lille, then in Paris. Like many artists of the time, the Salons were a springboard for public recognition. After the 1868 Salon, he moved permanently to the capital to be closer to the art world. Recognized by his peers, he joined the Société des artistes Français in 1887 and the Société Nationale des Beaux-arts in 1897. His oeuvre is vast and varied. The artist worked for the Manufacture de Sèvres, founded by Louis XV. He also sculpted quartz, various stones and ivory. Thanks to his participation in numerous Salons and his membership of two art societies, Agathon Léonard became a recognized artist in the art world, and was in demand, not least thanks to the Sèvres factory. He took part in the 1900 Universal Exhibition, where he presented one of his most famous works: the Jeu de l'Écharpe, made in Sèvres porcelain. Like many bronziers, he also worked on reliefs, creating, among others, a Sainte Cécile that is fairly well known to the general public.
He died in Paris in 1923, aged 82.
Travail du bronze à l'Antique
Like Rodin, Agathon Léonard brought bronze sculptures back into fashion, and unlike Rodin did not work exclusively on miniatures. Like the Italian bronziers, he made bronze sculpture a work in its own right, not a miniature to be used in larger marbles. This is why Agathon Léonard stands out in his artistic period. He was also a medallist, which testifies to his mastery of relief work.
Agathon Léonard's imprint on his period
Some of Agathon Léonard's works are visible and scattered around various towns in France, but relatively few: most of his production is in private collections. He was successively named Rosati d'honneur and Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur for his work, and leaves a considerable legacy in the history of art and sculpture of the early 20th century.
Recognizing the artist's signature
Agathon Léonard's works are not all signed. This is why, if you think you own a work by or after the artist, it is essential to have it appraised by an expert who will be able to authenticate it.
Agathon Léonard's imprint on his period
Some of Agathon Léonard's works are visible and scattered around various cities in France, but relatively few: the bulk of his output is in private collections. He was successively named Rosati d'honneur and Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur for his work, and leaves a considerable legacy in the history of art and sculpture of the early 20th century.
Recognizing the artist's signature
Agathon Léonard's works are not all signed. That's why, if you think you own a work by or after him, it's essential to have it appraised by an expert who can authenticate it.
Knowing the value of a work
If you happen to own a work by or after Agathon Léonard, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal using the 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, as well as any relevant information about it. If you wish to sell your work, you will also be accompanied by our specialists in order to benefit from alternatives to sell it at the best possible price, taking into account the inclinations of the market.
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Works from the same period sold at auction
Estimated Between €2,000 and €4,000
Edouard Marcel SANDOZ (1881-1971) curly stingray, bronze print
Estimated Between €5,000 and €8,000
Agathon LEONARD (1841-1923), Dancer with scarf, bronze lamp, ed. Susse frères
Estimated Between €1,500 and €3,000
Renato CARVILLANI (1896-1986), seated woman, gilded bronze print
Estimated Between €800 and €1,500
Claude Victor BOELZ (b. 1937), gilt bronze and quartz centerpiece
Estimated Between €10,000 and €20,000
Baltasar LOBO (1910-1993), female nude in bronze
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Frequently asked questions
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Who is Agathon Léonard, and what is his artistic background?Agathon Léonard (1841–1923) was a Belgian sculptor who became a naturalized French citizen and a leading figure of the Art Nouveau movement. Trained at the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, he distinguished himself through his exceptional mastery of bronze—which he elevated to the status of an art form in its own right—and through his collaborations with the Sèvres porcelain manufactory. His highly varied body of work combines gilded bronze, porcelain, marble, and ivory, and is characterized by a meticulous attention to detail and depictions of dancers.
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What is the price range for Agathon Léonard's bronze sculptures?The prices of Agathon Léonard’s sculptures vary considerably depending on the technique and rarity: bas-reliefs range from €90 to €400, plain bronzes from €90 to €300,000, and gilded bronzes from €180 to €496,780. This wide range reflects the importance of factors such as the artist’s signature, provenance, condition, and the work’s reputation in the market.
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How can you authenticate a sculpture by Agathon Léonard?Since many of Agathon Léonard’s works are unsigned, authentication requires a professional appraisal. Auctie's offers a free, no-obligation appraisal: fill out our online form, and a certified expert or auctioneer will contact you to authenticate your artwork and provide you with an estimate within 48 hours.
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Is this a good time to sell a sculpture by Agathon Léonard?Yes, this is a favorable time: Agathon Léonard’s bronze sculptures are in steady demand, particularly among French and European buyers, and prices are rising steadily at auction. The market is increasingly recognizing the quality of his works and their historical significance in Art Nouveau.
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How does the sale of a work of art work at Auctie's?Auctie's supports you every step of the way: after a free, no-obligation appraisal by our experts and auctioneers, we’ll present you with the best options for selling your sculpture at the best price, taking market trends into account and guiding you all the way through to the auction.
