Rating and value of Raymond Sudre's sculptures, bronzes and marbles

If you own a work by or after the artist Raymond Sudre, 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 an accurate estimate of its value on the current market.

Then, should you wish to sell your work, we will direct you to the best possible arrangement to obtain the optimum price.

Raymond Sudre artist's rating and value

Raymond Sudre is an artist from the Realist group. His legacy includes sculptures in various materials and drawings. At present, the prices of his works are exploding at the auctioneers' gavel.

His sculptures are particularly prized above all by French and American buyers, and the price at which they sell on the Art market ranges from €80 to €10,030, a considerable delta but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to Sudre's works.

In 2023, a marble, Gélidae, sold for €8,200 while it was estimated at between €4,000 and €6,000. The artist's quotation is high and varies according to the quantity of works present on the auction market.

Order of value ranging from a single work to the most prestigious

Style and technique of artist Raymond Sudre    

Raymond Sudre adopts a classical academic figuration, which is strongly influenced by his masters Alexandre Falguière and Antonin Mercié at the École des Beaux-Arts de Paris, combining anatomical precision with elegant idealization.

His subjects ranged from mythological and allegorical themes (Héléna, cité roussillonnaise rêve à son antique splendeur, 1905) to commissioned portraits/buses, whose solemn presence he also accentuated.

In his works in the round, he worked on draping, posture and body twisting, and gave the figures a certain monumentality, even in reduced format. The departure of Hermes, a slender, stylized bronze, is a notable example.

His work manifests a transition between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, sometimes incorporating symbolist touches (modulation of pose, accentuation of expression) while remaining within an academic doctrine.

The main materials are patinated bronze, for the majority of marketed sculptures, and marble or stone for more monumental works or official commissions.

He first makes models, then casts his sculptures in bronze, often with the mention of the foundry, or in direct carving for marble. He signs his works on the base or pedestal.

Finishes are often light-brown, red-brown or green-brown patinas for bronzes, with a smooth surface and careful treatment of anatomical details, elaborate drapery and balanced composition.

The works vary in size, from small statuettes between 30 and 40 cm to large-scale works (marbles over one meter) for public commissions.

Sudre's style illustrates the current of French academic sculpture straddling the 19th and 20th centuries, being both rigorous in form and sensitive to expression.

The life of Raymond Sudre

Raymond Sudre (1870 - 1962) was a French sculptor born in Perpignan. He was the son of a marble mason, which gave him early contact with stone and the other materials used in sculpture.

He then trained at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris in the studios of Alexandre Falguière and then Antonin Mercié. In 1900, he was awarded the second Prix de Rome in sculpture for the statue David.

He became a supplier to the Manufacture nationale de Sèvres from 1902 to 1905 for sculptures and high reliefs. After the First World War, he created a number of war memorials in several communes.

From 1934, he was president of the Salon d'hiver. In 1914, he was named Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur and promoted to Officer in 1938. He retains a strong link with his home region, the Pyrénées-Orientales, through a number of public works.

His long career spans the late 19th century and much of the 20th century, enabling his works to be considered in the context of the evolution of French academic sculpture.

Market segmentation and artist rating

Sculptures in patinated bronze (edition models) constitute the main segment, while marbles or directly cut stones are rarer, high-end pieces.

Small busts or reliefs (under 30 - 40 cm) constitute the entry segment. Medium-sized sculptures (50 - 70 cm) or with a good foundry mark constitute the intermediate segment. Monumental or large-scale pieces make up the high-end segment, but pieces are very few in number.

Valued subjects are mythological themes (Mercury's Departure), allegorical figures or signed busts with stamps such as the " Prix de concours École des Beaux-Arts " are favorite criteria.

The sales geography is divided between the French market (Paris), but also foreign auctions (Switzerland, USA) for certain lots. Valuation factors include a legible signature (e.g. " Sudre Paris "), an antique founder's stamp, original patina, good provenance, absence of restoration, small number of editions and size.

Entry levels for modest works (less than 30 cm, current edition) range from a few hundred to a few thousand euros, and medium-sized sculptures or key subjects can fetch several thousand to tens of thousands of euros.

The Raymond Sudre market is moderate and well-documented, but does not figure in the quotations of the most high-end artists. Prices are widely dispersed: size, quality and provenance make a big difference. The quotation seems stable but not very dynamic, like other sculptors such as Paul Paulin or Paul Wayland Barlett.

Recognizing Raymond Sudre's signature    

The artist doesn't always sign his works. If you think you own one, it's best to have it appraised. The signature may differ depending on the type of work: sculpture, drawing or other. There are also copies, which is why expertise is important.

Knowing the value of a work

If you happen to own a work by or after Raymond Sudre, don't hesitate to request a free valuation 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 work, as well as ad hoc 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, taking into account the inclinations of the market.