Rating and value of works, paintings by Friedrich Overbeck

Rating and value of works, paintings by Friedrich Overbeck

Key takeaways

  • The prices of Friedrich Overbeck’s works vary considerably, ranging from €45 for a print to €573,300 for his most prestigious oil-on-canvas paintings.
  • A German Neoclassical painter (1789–1869) who specialized in religious subjects, drew inspiration from the Italian Primitives, and was highly regarded by English and German collectors.
  • His oil painting “The Banishment of Hagar” (1841) sold for €624,300 in 2016, confirming the high market value of his major works at auction.

If you own a work by or after Johann Overbeck, 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 Johann Friedrich Overbeck

Johann Friedrich Overbeck left behind a very singular body of work, in the neoclassical movement. Prices for his works are now rising under the auctioneer's hammer. His paintings are particularly prized, especially by English and German buyers. The price at which they sell on the art market ranges from €45 to €573,300, a substantial range but one that says a lot about the value that can be attributed to Friedrich Overbeck's works. In 2016, his oil on canvas The Banishment of Hagar dating from 1841 sold for €624,300 while it was estimated at between €459,000 and €734,000.

Order of value from a simple work to the most prestigious

Technique used

Result

Estamp

From €45 to €1,700

Drawing

From €125 to €78 000€

Oil on canvas

From 770 to 573 300€

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The style and technique of Johann Friedrich Overbeck

Friedrich Overbeck was part of the neoclassical movement, painting mainly history. Religious subjects fascinated him. He drew inspiration from the Flemish and Dutch masters, but especially the Italians, using chiaroscuro above all.

Friedrich Overbeck, huile sur toile

The life of Johann Frierich Overbeck

Johann Friedrich Overbeck (1789 - 1869) was a German Neoclassical painter. He was born in Lübeck. His father was a lawyer, as were the rest of his family. His uncle was a doctor of theology, and it was probably during this period of his life that he turned to religious subjects in his painting. In 1806, he chose Vienna to begin his career. He was a pupil of Füger, but Overbeck found that he was excessive about the expectations of the Vienna Academy, and said he wanted to withdraw into his own interiority in a letter he wrote to a friend.

He convinces himself that the original purity of Christian art has been corrupted by Vienna and the whole of Europe, even though he himself comes from Protestant pastors, and is therefore in tune with the Beeldenstorm and the iconauclastic crisis linked to the Protestant Reformation.

He therefore decided to go back to basics and take as his model the Italian primitives, those of the very early Renaissance, those before Raphael.

Always against the Academy, he founded with painter friends the Confrérie de Saint Luc in 1809, which was dissolved some ten years later. He decided that he was finished with Vienna and moved to Rome with members of his former brotherhood, notably Friedrich Wilhem and Peter von Cornelius. They avoided Antiquity and the Renaissance as sources of inspiration, because they were too pagan and artistically biased. The field of possibilities was thus considerably reduced, and they concentrated on Peruguin and Raphael's early canvases.

Overbeck eventually converted to Catholicism, and his group was nicknamed the Nazarenes.

Friedrich Overbeck's imprint on his time

Friedrich Overbeck completely turned away from his origins in order to lead a life that suited him better. Inspired by the Catholic religion, he painted religious subjects and churches throughout his career. In Rome, he enjoyed success, with high dignitaries commissioning frescoes for religious buildings.

Today, his work is highly rated on the auction market and sought after by collectors.

Recognizing Friedrich Overbeck's signature

Friedrich Overbeck's works are generally 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. In addition, there are of course many copies.

Knowing the value of a work

If you happen to own a work by or after Friedrich Overbeck, 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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Frequently asked questions

  • Who was Johann Friedrich Overbeck, and what was his artistic style?
    Johann Friedrich Overbeck (1789–1869) was a German painter of the Neoclassical movement who specialized in religious history paintings. As the founder of the Nazarene movement in Rome, he drew inspiration from the Italian Primitives and Perugino, notably employing chiaroscuro in his compositions. His works, highly sought after by English and German collectors, reflect a spiritual and thoughtful approach to religious painting.
  • What is the price range for works by Friedrich Overbeck?
    The prices of Friedrich Overbeck’s works vary considerably depending on the medium and the prestige of the piece: prints sell for between €45 and €1,700, drawings between €125 and €78,000, and oil paintings on canvas between €770 and €573,300. In 2016, his 1841 painting “The Banishment of Hagar” sold for €624,300, demonstrating the strong demand for his major paintings on the market.
  • How can a work attributed to Friedrich Overbeck be authenticated?
    Although Friedrich Overbeck’s works are generally signed, it is essential to have your painting appraised to verify its authenticity and date, as copies do exist. Auctie's offers a free, no-obligation appraisal by its experts and certified auctioneers, who will examine the work and confirm its authenticity within 48 hours.
  • Is this the right time to sell a work by Friedrich Overbeck?
    Yes, this is an excellent time to sell a work by Friedrich Overbeck. His prices are rising steadily at auction, and his paintings are highly sought after, particularly by English and German collectors. The market now fully recognizes the artistic and historical value of this master of Neoclassicism.
  • How does the appraisal and sale process work at Auctie's?
    Appraisals at Auctie's are free and non-binding: simply submit your artwork using the online form. A certified expert or auctioneer will contact you promptly to provide you with a valuation and information about your artwork within 48 hours. If you wish to sell, our specialists will guide you from start to finish—through the auction—to help you achieve the best possible price.