Rating and value of works, drawings, paintings by Lucien Lévy Dhurmer

Rating and value of works, drawings, paintings by Lucien Lévy Dhurmer

Key takeaways

  • Lucien Lévy-Dhurmer, a French Symbolist painter (1865), who specialized in portraits and landscapes, with prices ranging from €20 to €1,350,374.
  • Oil-on-canvas works command the highest prices (€100 to €1,350,374), while prints remain affordable (€20 to €400).
  • His works, recognized at the 1900 World’s Fair and honored with the Legion of Honor in 1902, are characterized by a melancholic and exotic Symbolist style.

If you own a work by or after the artist Lucien Lévy-Dhurmer, 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 Lucien Lévy-Dhurmer

A French Symbolist painter par excellence, Lucien Lévy-Dhurmer devoted himself mainly to portraits and landscapes. Most of his work is based on a wide range of paintings, but there are also rare sculptures and ceramics. The prices at which his works are sold range from €20 to €1,350 374, a substantial delta but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to the artist's works. In this case, the portrait of an Andalusian woman on a blue and white abstract background sold for €6 038 in 2023.  

Order of value from a single work to the most prestigious

Technique used

Result

Estamp - multiple

From €20 to €400

Drawing - watercolor

From €60 to €280 000€

Oil on canvas

From 100 to 1 350 374€

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Style and technique of Lucien Lévy-Dhurmer

Lucien Lévy-Dhurmer finds his style and learns from several artistic currents such as Academism and more particularly Symbolism through his attraction to dreams, a certain mysticism and a form of melancholy, in reaction to naturalism. His style is also reminiscent of early 19th-century Romanticism and Pre-Raphaelitism, recalling the paintings of Dante Gabriel Rossetti and John Everett Millais. He paints women with a symbolic or even mythological character, in a vaporous style, and being proponents of the " non finito ", the background against which the bust figures appear is relatively abstract or sketched.

Lucien Lévy Dhurmer, dessin

The life of Lucien Lévy-Dhurmer

Born in Algiers in 1865, Lucien Lévy-Dhurmer began his artistic training in 1879 at the École communale supérieure de dessin et de sculpture in Paris. His spectacular mastery of pastel and drawing quickly earned him a reputation, and he worked at Clément Massier's Manufacture for 8 years.

In 1896, following the organization of a monographic exhibition of Lucien Lévy-Dhurmer's work at the Galerie Georges Petit in Paris, his career took a turning point. His works spread like intimate portraits, his pastels, drawings and paintings testifying to an art of evocation, often taking the form of intimate, mysterious and unsettling portraits.

His travels throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East lend a singular exoticism to his canvases, which are reminiscent of Jean-Léon Gérôme's Orientalism. Music is an undeniable source of inspiration, and his work is reminiscent of James McNeill Whistler's famous symphonie en blanc n°1. He thus drew inspiration from the greatest composers of his time, such as Beethoven and Debussy, to paint works such as La Sonate au clair de Lune.

Le silence remains one of his most enigmatic and unsettling portraits, now preserved at the Musée d'Orsay. Akin to an allegory of fatality, this one depicts a woman looking like the Virgin Mary, posing in a frontal, hieratic pose, against a starry background. The painter was undoubtedly inspired by Auguste Préault's famous sculpture.

The artist's imprint on his period

Lévy-Dhurmer was awarded a bronze medal at the Universal Exhibition in 1900, before receiving the Legion of Honor in 1902, which greatly contributed to the growth of his fame at the dawn of the twentieth century. 

Recognizing Lucien Lévy-Dhurmer's signature

The painter didn't sign all his works, which doesn't make for easy expertise. When his works are signed, the signature appears as a voluptuous, conspicuous idiogram in flowing script.

Signature de Lucien Lévy Dhurmer

To know the value of a work of art

If you happen to own a work of art by Lucien Lévy-Dhurmer, don't wait any longer 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 value of your work, as well as any relevant information about it. If you're thinking of selling your work, our specialists will also help you find alternatives to sell it at the best possible price.

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Frequently asked questions

  • Who is Lucien Lévy-Dhurmer, and what is his artistic style?
    Lucien Lévy-Dhurmer (1865–1953) was a major French Symbolist painter, born in Algiers, known for his intimate portraits and mysterious landscapes. His distinctive style combines Symbolism, Romanticism, and Pre-Raphaelite art, with a predilection for mythological female figures, rendered in a dreamlike and sometimes unfinished (non finito) style. His travels through Europe, Africa, and the Middle East enriched his work with an exotic and Orientalist dimension, while music inspired some of his most famous compositions.
  • What are the selling prices of Lucien Lévy-Dhurmer's works?
    The prices of Lucien Lévy-Dhurmer’s works vary considerably depending on the medium and quality: prints sell for between €20 and €400, drawings and watercolors between €60 and €280,000, while oil paintings on canvas can fetch up to €1,350,374. This wide range reflects the importance of factors such as the period, subject matter, condition, and provenance of the work.
  • How can you authenticate a work by Lucien Lévy-Dhurmer?
    To authenticate a work by Lucien Lévy-Dhurmer, we recommend that you request a free appraisal from Auctie's. Our experts and state-certified auctioneers will analyze your artwork, verify the signature (which appears as a fluid, sensuous idiogram when present), examine its technique and provenance, and then provide you with an accurate, no-obligation appraisal.
  • Is now a good time to sell a work by Lucien Lévy-Dhurmer?
    Yes, now is the right time to sell a work by Lucien Lévy-Dhurmer. The market remains active for this renowned Symbolist artist, whose works are featured in prestigious collections such as the Musée d’Orsay. The artist’s enduring reputation, bolstered by his historic accolades (bronze medal in 1900, Legion of Honor in 1902), ensures steady demand for his paintings and drawings.
  • How does the free appraisal work at Auctie's?
    Simply fill out our online form with photos and a description of your artwork. An expert or certified auctioneer from our team will contact you within 48 hours to gather more details and provide you with an accurate estimate of the current market value, with no obligation. If you decide to sell, we’ll work with you to find the best way to market your piece.