Rating and value of works, paintings by Rudolf Ernst

If you own a work by or about the artist Rudolf Ernst, 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. Thereafter, 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 Rudolf Ernst 

Considered one of the protagonists of Orientalism in the 19th century, Rudolf Ernst leaves behind a unique artistic repertoire imbued with the colonialist artistic spirit. This legacy is made up of paintings, the majority of which are oil on canvas. Today, prices for his works are skyrocketing under auctioneers' hammers. His paintings and other works are particularly prized, especially by English and American buyers, and the price at which they sell on the art market ranges from €20 to €121,720, a considerable delta but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to Rudolf Ernst's works. In 2021, a polychrome composition depicting the Constantinople Mosque sold for €121,720.  

Order of value from a simple work to the most prestigious 

Style and technique of the artist Rudolf Ernst

Rudolf Ernst is part of the Orientalist movement, very much in vogue in the 19th and 20th centuries, which consists of depicting oriental scenes from various countries, particularly those of North Africa. The colors used are rather warm, and a great deal of work is done on light.  

The life of Rudolf Ernst, from Vienna to Orientalism  

Rudolf Ernst (1854-1932), an Austrian artist, became an important painter of Orientalism. He was born in Vienna and had a father who was both a member and architect of the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts. His vocation was thus born quite quickly, and he was trained there. It was Aslem Feuerbach who trained him in painting. By 1877, he was exhibiting at the Salon des Artistes Français. He quarreled with the secretary of the Vienna Academy and moved to Paris to pursue his career. It was in Morocco that he, like Henri Pontoy or Jacques Majorelle, found a new inspiration that would stay with him throughout his career.

He chose Orientalist painting as the backbone for his work, and traveled throughout the Orient. He meets Osman Hamdi Bey, a former pupil of Jean-Léon Gérome.

However, he exhibits in Paris from time to time.

Rudolf Ernst's imprint on his period  

Rudolf Ernst is one of the first artists representing the Orientalist style. His works bear little resemblance to those produced after him, using softer hues and finer, more precise strokes than other so-called Orientalist painters. He was also one of the few painters to travel beyond North Africa to the Middle East, especially Constantinople, where he spent some time at the Ottoman court.

Recognizing Rudolf Ernst's signature

Rudolf Ernst's paintings are often signed in the lower left-hand corner of the canvas. He signs "R. Ernst" often in a dark tone.  

Knowing the value of a work 

If you happen to own a work by or after Rudolf Ernst, 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 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 market inclinations.