Value and quotation of works, paintings by Ferdinand Roybet

If you own a work by or after Ferdinand Roybet, 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 Ferdinand Roybet

The artist Ferdinand Roybet leaves behind a distinctive body of work, mostly Orientalist. He studied art in Lyon and Paris. From then on, prices for his works rose under the auctioneer's hammer. The price at which they sell on the art market ranges from €15 to €360,300, a significant gap but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to Ferdinand Roybet's works. In 2019, an oil on canvas heavily inspired by Caravaggio (cf Le joueur de luth) sold for €62,270, while it was estimated at between €17,800 and €26,700. The artist's value peaked in the 1990s/2000s, but his works are still sought after by collectors.

Order of value from a single work to Ferdinand Roybet's most prestigious

Style and technique of artist Ferdinand Roybet

Ferdinand Roybet belongs to the artistic denomination " orientalist ", which is not a current but groups together painters who drew their inspiration from the Orient. Roybet is otherwise hugely inspired by Caravaggio, in the choice of colors (cf The disbelief of Saint Thomas), in the treatment of faces (cf Medusa Murtola, in comparison with Roybet's oil on canvas sold by Auctie's) but also in the choice of subjects (The lute player, Caravaggio - A young player, Roybet).

Ferdinand Roybet, a forgotten figure of the 19th century

Ferdinand Roybet (1840-1920), a French artist, was in demand in the 19th century.

He began his training in Lyon, where he studied engraving. He produced many of them during his career. He then moved to Paris, where he learned painting and oil-on-canvas techniques from Jean-Georges Vibert. He is inspired by all the great Italian and Flemish masters, particularly the Utrecht school (Hontorst, Brugghen). He still earned little money and struggled to make a living from his work.

He exhibited at the Salon of 1865, but it was the following year that his talent was revealed to the public, with Le fou sous Henri III. Mathilde Bonaparte bought the painting, and this success opened doors for him.

After the siege of Paris, he left for Belgium and then Algeria, where he produced many canvases that were all bought from him. He returned to Paris, where he moved into a private mansion and began collecting objets d'art, which ruined him.

However, he still had clients, and Cornelius Vanderbilt bought works from him for a large sum.

Like Carolus Duran, he realized that portraits of socialites, generals, and noblemen could earn him a lot of money. His last works were on religious subjects: the influence of Caravaggio never left him. He produced a series of 22 canvases on the Passion of Christ, which were exhibited at the 1921 Salon, a year after his death. Napoleon III's granddaughter created a museum in his name, to which she bequeathed the Ferdinand Roybet works she owned.  

Ferdinand Roybet's imprint on 19th-century art

Ferdinand Roybet is one of the few artists who drew so much inspiration from foreign painters. He drew inspiration from the Italian and Flemish schools, but very little ultimately from the great French masters.

Recognizing the signature of artist Ferdinand Roybet

Not all of Ferdinand Roybet's works are signed, especially when it comes to drawings and prints. This is why the estimate is so high. He was highly regarded in the 19th century, and has been somewhat forgotten due to the artistic revolution of the 20th century. However, his works remain highly appreciated at auction and are sought after by collectors.

To find out the value of a work by Ferdinand Roybet

If you happen to own a work by or after Ferdinand Roybet, don't hesitate to request a free valuation 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.