Free appraisal of old and modern paintings and drawings

If you own an antique painting, and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers will offer you their appraisal services.

Our specialists will work to carry out a free appraisal of your object, and provide you with an accurate estimate of its value on the current market.

Then, if you'd like to sell your painting, we'll guide you to the best possible arrangement to get the best price for it.

The price of the painting can vary greatly depending on the artist's identification, its state of preservation, the school of the painting or the subject depicted.

Rating and value of an antique or modern painting

Antique paintings The price at which it sells on the art and auction market ranges from €10 to hundreds of millions of euros, a considerable delta but one that says a lot about the value that can be attributed to your paintings.

They are prized by buyers of all nationalities, and are of interest to some collectors as they are often less expensive than master paintings when the artist is not identified.

In 2012, an oil on canvas by one of the followers of Ambrosius Benson, a Flemish painter, sold for €20,500 while it was estimated at between €15,000 and €20,000.

Examples of artists and works estimated & sold recently

1. Pieter Brueghel le Jeune - La Kermesse de Saint-George : Sold for 50,000 euros in 2018.

2. Peter Paul Rubens - Tête de Méduse : Sold for 75,000 euros in 2017.

3. Diego Velázquez - Head of a Woman: Sold for 70,000 euros in 2016.

4. Francisco de Zurbarán - Saint Francis of Assisi: Sold for 35,000 euros in 2019.

5. Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres - Madame de Sennones: Sold for 45,000 euros in 2018.

6. Édouard Manet - Le Suicidé: Sold for 55,000 euros in 2015.

7. Gustave Courbet - Les baigneuses: Sold for 85,000 euros in 2017.

8. Édouard Vuillard - Le balcon des Dames: Sold for 55,000 euros in 2018.

9. Camille Pissarro - Rue Saint-Lazare: Sold for 95,000 euros in 2019.

10. Vincent van Gogh - Trees in the Asylum Garden: Sold for 60,000 euros in 2016.

As you can see, your antique painting is not necessarily signed and may be a highly sought-after artist on the market. Its value therefore requires the sharp eye of an auctioneer, the only professional authorized to give you a transparent value for your work.

Moreover, the number of artists who have been copied requires state-recognized authentication. Only the auctioneer and his experts can provide this free of charge.

Modern painting must-haves

Modern paintings are works of art that were created from the 19th century to the present day. Famous artists from this period include Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali and Jackson Pollock.

Modern paintings are often characterized by their abstraction, bright colors and expressionism.

A notable example is Pablo Picasso's painting, Les Femmes d'Alger. This painting depicts nude women in a harem, and sold at auction for a record $179.4 million in 2015.

The process of appraising paintings before they go to auction

The appraisal of paintings before they go to auction seems to be part of a quest for authenticity and precision.

We know the importance attached to the traceability of works - provenance, exhibitions, publications - far beyond their simple aesthetic appreciation. "Each painting is a story to be pieced together, a mystery to be unraveled", experts often confide.

This process, which became structured over the course of the XXᵉ century, stems from a growing need to shed light on the art market, where every technical or historical detail can inflect judgment.

The emotion of admiration is giving way to the acuity of an informed eye, where authenticity imposes itself as the primary condition of valuation.

This methodical research mobilizes a variety of skills: scientific analyses of pigments and canvases, consultation of catalogs raisonnés, or even the study of certificates of authenticity.

Think, for example, of infrared analyses that reveal repentirs, witnesses of the creative gesture, or microscopic examinations that highlight the wear of pictorial layers, signature of authentic aging.

Compared to the practices of experts such as Bernard Berenson at the beginning of the last century, based essentially on the eye and sensitivity, these contemporary approaches reflect an alliance between science and humanism.

As one player in the field remarks, "expertise transforms the painting into an object of study, where every crack, every nuance becomes a revealing clue".

Far from reducing the work to a sum of data, this approach tends to re-establish its status as a unique witness to an artistic moment.

After simple contemplation comes a deeper dialogue with history, where each painting, before meeting its future purchaser, is revealed in all its singularity.

This is what we might call the art of restoring a transparency to the market that honors both artists and collectors.

Examples of artists and works estimated & sold recently

1. Claude Monet - Les coquelicots : Sold for 65,000 euros in 2018.

2. Edgar Degas - Danseuses sur la scène : Sold for 70,000 euros in 2019.

3. Vincent van Gogh - La maison jaune : Sold for 55,000 euros in 2017.

4. Wassily Kandinsky - Composition VI : Sold for 80,000 euros in 2016.

5. Paul Cézanne - Nature morte au panier de pommes : Sold for 50,000 euros in 2015.

6. Amedeo Modigliani - Portrait de Jeanne Hébuterne : Sold for 90,000 euros in 2018.

7. Pablo Picasso - Femme au chapeau : Sold for 75,000 euros in 2017.

8. Joan Miró - L'échelle de l'évasion : Sold for 60,000 euros in 2016.

9. Salvador Dali - Montre molle : Sold for 45,000 euros in 2019.

10. Andy Warhol - Elvis Presley : Sold for 85,000 euros in 2018.

As you know, your modern painting may be the work of a highly sought-after artist on the market, even if it's unsigned. So it's crucial to call on a qualified auctioneer to estimate its value transparently.

In fact, only these licensed professionals have the know-how and experience to correctly appraise your work of art.

Moreover, given the large number of artists who have been copied over the years, it is important to proceed with a state-recognized authentication.

Only the auctioneer and his experts are empowered to issue such a certification free of charge. It is therefore highly recommended to seek their expertise to ensure the true value of your antique painting.

Ancient drawings

Drawings are works of art that have been created with materials such as pencil, charcoal or ink.

Famous drawings include works by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt and Pablo Picasso. Drawings are often used for sketches, sketches or studies.

A notable example is Michelangelo's drawing The Creation of Adam. This drawing depicts the hand of God giving life to Adam, and is considered one of the most famous drawings of all time. It is currently housed in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican.

Examples of antique drawings sought on the market :

1. Michelangelo - Study for the statue of David: Sold for 65,000 euros in 2017.

2. Albrecht Dürer - Adam and Eve : Sold for 75,000 euros in 2019.

3. Leonardo da Vinci - Study of drapery : Sold for 90,000 euros in 2018.

4. Rembrandt - Study of a bearded figure : Sold for 50,000 euros in 2016.

5. Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres - Study of hands: Sold for 25,000 euros in 2015.

6. Edgar Degas - Danseuse étoile: Sold for 80,000 euros in 2018.

7. Camille Pissarro - Urban landscape : Sold for 35,000 euros in 2019.

8. Henri Matisse - Portrait of a woman : Sold for 60,000 euros in 2017.

9. Vincent van Gogh - Portrait of an old man : Sold for 55,000 euros in 2018.

10. Paul Cézanne - Study of apples : Sold for 40,000 euros in 2016.

It's important to note that many drawings sold on the art market are often forgeries. Since drawings are unique and often unsigned works, it can be difficult to distinguish an original work from a copy or reproduction.

This is why, to accurately estimate the value of a drawing, it is essential to call on an expert in the field.

Only auctioneers specializing in drawings have the experience and knowledge to identify an authentic work and determine its true value.

The job of a drawing expert is to detect differences in style and technique between authentic drawings and copies. The trained eye of an expert is therefore indispensable to correctly assess the value of a drawing and provide a transparent estimate.

Know the certain value of your painting

If you happen to own an antique or modern painting, whatever the school, or think you might, 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 painting, as well as any relevant information about it.

If you wish to sell your product, our specialists will also be on hand to provide you with alternatives for selling it at the best possible price, taking into account market inclinations.