Rating and value of paintings by Ivan Aïvazovski

If you own a work by or based on the work of artist Ivan Aïvazvosky 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.

Then, 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 major artist of the Paris School, Ivan Aïvazovsky made his mark on the art market as early as the 19th century. Since then, his value has risen steadily, establishing him as a market leader.

Highly sought-after by collectors, Aïvazovsky's marine paintings are the most popular in auction rooms. Works by the artist sell for between €100 and €3,548,160 at auction.

In 2007, his oil on canvas American shipping off the Rock of Gibraltar, dating from 1873, went for €3,548,160, while it was estimated at between €591,400 and €887,000.

Order of value from the most basic to the most prestigious

The artist's works and style

Aïvazovsky developed a distinctive style characterized by Russian realism combined with the genre of marine paintings. He also sought out transparency effects, adding visual depth to his creations.

Aïvazovsky's work is often described as poetic and expressive. His unique style has helped position him as one of the leading artists of Russian realism.

He is an undisputed master of Russian marine painting, and is best known for his depictions that employ remarkable luminosity and fluidity. His work captures the multiple aspects of the ocean, choosing both violent storms and calm, expansive waters bathed in light.

He uses glaze painting, working with superimposed layers of translucent paint to create painterly and transparent effects, especially in his skies and waves. This technique gives his work an ethereal, almost unreal atmosphere, reinforcing the impression of movement.

His palette is subtle and luminous, favoring vibrant, contrasting colors, creating subtle gradations between sky and sea. He depicts many sunsets and sunrises, allowing him to work on his lunar reflections on the water - which are among the most emblematic motifs in his work.

His drawing is precise and his compositions dramatic, his maritime scenes often highlighted by a relatively low horizon line, which exalts the immensity of the sky and ocean. He composes dynamic images by playing on the diagonal of the waves and the movement of ships ; which accentuates the dramatic tension.

He works in the studio, yet retains a great capacity for imagination. Aïvazovsky did not paint en plein air, but relied on sketches and his own visual memory. His intuitive approach enabled him to create idealized maritime scenes that were more poetic than purely realistic.

A certain influence of Romanticism and the visible can be seen in his canvases. His works reflect an obvious fascination with the power of nature and man's insignificance in the face of the elements.

Ivan Aïvazovsky, painter of marine russe

Ivan Constantanovitch Aïvazovsky (1817-1900) was a Russian marine painter who worked mainly on Russian realism and the representation of the sea. He was born in Theodosia, in the Russian Empire.

A native of Armenia, he came from a fairly poor background and took an interest in drawing from childhood, copying illustrations of Greek battles against the Ottomans. He managed to study at the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts, where he was quickly noticed.

Some time later, Tsar Nicholas I commissioned him to depict the Russian fleets, accompanying the Tsar's son on several military expeditions.

He therefore saw the Russian navy up close, enabling him to transcribe reality very faithfully. From 1840 onwards, he traveled to various European countries - the Vatican even bought a painting from him. He is considered to have been influenced by William Turner and Théodore Géricault at this time and later in his work.

On his return, he became a member of the Imperial Academy of St. Petersburg and was appointed official painter to the staff of the Imperial Russian Navy. He enjoyed international renown throughout his career.

He died in Theodosia (Crimea) at the age of 82.

Focus on The Ninth Wave, 1850, Ivan Aïvasovsky

In this painting, Aïvazovsky depicts a raging sea after a storm, materialized by powerful waves and a dramatic sky. A group of castaways cling to the remains of a mast, lost in the immensity of the ocean.

The light, emanating from the rising sun, pierces the dark clouds and illuminates the crest of the waves, adding a touch of hope to the theatricality of the composition.

He thus delivers a spectacular vision of the sea, painting it as a living being - one capable of both destruction and beauty. The power of the waves and the immensity of the ocean overwhelm the survivors.

The painter's use of light is exceptional: the golden rays of the sun contrast with the cold tones of the sea, creating an atmosphere that is both dramatic and poetic. The subtle play of transparencies and reflections on the water create a sense of realism and movement.

The composition is dynamic and well-balanced, with the diagonal formed by the waves directing the viewer's gaze towards the shipwrecked men, setting the scene for a veritable visual narrative. The horizon line, which, as usual, he works very low, exalts the immensity of the sky and, as usual, accentuates the dramatic effect.

The symbolism intended by Ivan Aïvazovsky is strong: the work illustrates the uncontrollable power of nature, and the fragility of mankind in the face of elements he cannot control. However, the depiction of the rising sun suggests a form of hope - and perhaps survival, even if it appears in discreet touches.

The Ninth Wave thus stands out as an emblematic work by Ivan Aïvazovsky - one that combines virtuoso technique, worthy of the greatest marine painters, with a powerful emotional charge.

Between drama and hope, he succeeds in transcribing his fascination for the sea and his ambition to capture its infinite grandeur onto canvas, with gripping intensity.

Ivan Aïvazovsky's imprint on his era

Ivan Aïvazovsky made a lasting mark on his era in Russia and around the world, receiving numerous public commissions directly from the Tsar or from European states. Today, his works are still sought after by some collectors.

He established himself as an undisputed master of 19th-century marine painting, surpassing many gifted European artists in this field. His absolutely unique approach to the sea - which veers between realism and romanticism - left a lasting influence on maritime painting.

He received international recognition during his lifetime, exhibiting in many European capitals, including Paris, Rome and London, where everywhere his talent was recognized. Beyond Russia, his works were commissioned by the greatest royal courts.

He thus left a major contribution to Russian art, becoming his country's official painter of the imperial navy, but also to history, immortalizing his country's naval exploits on canvas  inspiring several generations of Russian painters - above all for his ability to capture light and the movements of water.

He was also a patron and teacher of the artists of his time. Founder of the art school in Feodossia, where he was born, he also contributed to the artistic development of the local scene.

The artistic legacy he leaves to the world is enduring, like other marine painters such as Boudin, Isabey or Bonington. He still influences more contemporary painters and many visitors admire some of his paintings every day, which are exhibited in the world's greatest museums.

His signature

Not all of Ivan Aïvazovy's works are signed.

Although there are variations, here is a first example of his signature:

Expertise your property

If you own a work by Ivan Aïvazovy, don't hesitate 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.