Rating and value of works, paintings by Baron François Gérard

If you own a work by or after Baron Gérard, 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 François Gérard

The artist François Gérard left behind a very singular body of work, in the neoclassical movement, he was an official painter of the Empire and was famous and in demand during his lifetime. From then on, prices for his works rose under the auctioneers' hammer. His paintings are particularly prized, especially by French and English buyers. The price at which they sell on the art market ranges from €100 to €1,929,430, a considerable difference, but one that says a lot about the value that can be attributed to Gérard's works. In 2021, his 1815 portrait of Henri Seymour in finery sold for €271,000, whereas it was estimated at between €150,000 and €200,000.

Order of value from a simple work to the most prestigious

Style and technique of Baron Gérard  

Baron Gérard is part of the neo-classicism movement, which followed the return to Antiquity during the reign of Louis XVI. He thus adopted the canons of classicism, like Jacques-Louis David, the leading exponent of this movement. His compositions are very Raphaelian, sometimes also borrowing a few pastel colors from Mannerism.

Le Baron Gérard, de l'académie de Rome à la propagande de l'Empire

François Gérard (1770-1837) was a 19th-century French painter, known for his portraits and neoclassical works of art. He was born in Rome, Italy, where his father, also a painter, worked as director of the French Academy in Rome.

Gérard studied painting in Paris and quickly gained a great reputation for his elegant, flattering portraits. He painted many members of the French royal family, including portraits of Queen Marie-Antoinette and Napoleon Bonaparte.

His artistic skills made him one of the most fashionable painters of his time, and he became Napoleon's official painter, who named him "Peintre de Sa Majesté l'Empereur". Despite his connection with Napoleon, Gérard managed to readjust to the restoration of the monarchy after the emperor's fall, and continued to paint portraits for the new authorities. He obtained his title of baron under the Restoration, after rendering royal portraits to Louis XVIII and Charles X.

Beyond portraits, Gérard also painted history and mythological scenes, like the Baron Jean-Antoine Gros. His style was influenced by Neoclassicism, characterized by balanced compositions, pure lines and references to the art of antiquity.

Today, the works of François Gérard are held in museums and collections around the world, and he is considered one of the most important painters of his time.

A painter in the service of the French state

François Gérard, a 19th-century French painter, left his mark on his time by becoming famous for his flattering portraits, which earned him great popularity with the aristocracy and elite of his day. His appointment as "Painter to His Majesty the Emperor" by Napoleon Bonaparte granted him high status, and his works helped to spread the Emperor's image.

He immortalized the greatest of his battles in the 1810 painting La bataille d'Austerlitz, preserved at Versailles. He took up Michelangelo's light work to depict the legendary sun of Austerlitz.

Gérard was also influential in the artistic and intellectual circles of his day, associated with artists such as Jacques-Louis David and Antoine-Jean Gros. He played a key role in promoting the neoclassical style in France, and even after the fall of the Emperor, he managed to adapt politically and artistically to maintain his renown. Thus, thanks to his artistic talent, influential connections and impact on the neoclassical movement, François Gérard left a significant mark on 19th-century French art history.

Recognizing Baron Gérard's signature

Baron Gérard's works are usually signed. However, with or without a mention, it is important for you to have the work appraised to ensure its originality and to be able to date it. What's more, there are naturally many copies.

Knowing the value of a work

If you happen to own a work by Gérard or after the artist, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal using our 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.