Rating and value of First Empire paintings

If you own a painting from the First Empire, 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 object, and provide you with a precise estimate of its value on today's market. Then, if you wish to sell your painting, we will guide you towards the best possible means of obtaining the best possible price. The price of a painting can vary greatly depending on the artist's identification, its state of preservation, the school of painting or the subject depicted.

Rating and value of a First Empire painting  

First Empire paintings are appreciated and sought after by collectors. The price at which they sell on the art and auction market ranges from €5 to €2,836,000, a considerable delta but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to your paintings. They are prized by buyers of all nationalities, and interest some collectors because they are sometimes less expensive than master paintings when the artist is not identified. In 2017, a simple portrait of the Consul Bonaparte done in pencil on paper fetched €100,000 while it was estimated at between €30,000 and €50,000.

Order of value from the simplest to the most prestigious painting

Reasons to have a First Empire painting appraised at auction

If you own a First Empire painting, you may be unaware of its value. Indeed, even if the painting is not signed, it is possible in some cases to identify the artist. If it's listed on the auction market, then the price could rise very quickly. It is also possible that the artist is not identifiable and that we can only know the school of the painting.

Defining a First Empire antique painting

An antique painting is a work of art painted on a flat surface, usually canvas, wood panel or metal plate, and dating back several centuries. These works are the result of the work of often talented artists who, through the ages, have sought to illustrate historical figures, wars and important moments of their time. Depending on the period and the country, the iconography and subjects can be very different. The 19th century is a pivotal period, and late academic figurative paintings can be considered antique, but with care. Paintings from the First Empire are generally considered to be antique, as the period is highly representative of neoclassicism, which was the last pictorial movement to adopt all the academic canons. These later fell into disuse.

Paintings of the First Empire, a survival of the academic canons

After the tumult of the French Revolution and the upheaval it engendered in art history, the Consulate and First Empire were to be a period of artistic renewal marked by political propaganda and a return to classical painting. During the revolutionary period, many works, particularly historical paintings, were burned. However, the academic canon survived these events. After the coup d'état of 18 Brumaire, carried out on Talleyrand's advice, Napoleon Bonaparte became First Consul and commander of the French Army. He quickly realized that the historical paintings, war scenes and portraits produced of him and his military victories would serve his reputation and help build the Napoleonic myth. He soon surrounded himself with the greatest painters. Ingres painted his portrait as First Consul, and Antoine Gros did the same. The Constitution of An VIII comes into force, foreshadowing what is to come. The Battle of Marengo strengthened the legitimacy of the Consul, who was crowned Emperor on December 2, 1804. By then, he had already organized enormous propaganda around his power, the culmination of this control of the arts being David's painting of the coronation.

However, he commissioned paintings with a powerful political message long before his coronation  in 1804, Baron Gros completedBonaparte visiting the plague-stricken of Jaffa. This work depicts him as a thaumaturge sovereign, capable of curing lepers. He is depicted successively as a god or a king, in imperial garb, having debauched the most talented painters of his day in order to build his legend.

Art production under the Empire

Once the great painters of the time were in his service, all the less important and less recognized painters copied David, Gérard, Gros, Ingres and the others to keep up with the times. This is why so many paintings and other works from the First Empire are often presented at auction - the production is immense. Although many works are kept in museums, most remain in the hands of private collections, given the sheer quantity of works produced.

Many collectors seek out works from this historical period, as it is highly appreciated by many and is very rich in terms of pictorial technique and subjects represented (history paintings, war scenes, subjects from Antiquity). In some works, we can discern the first romanticism, notably in Antoine Gros, which would signal the end of respect for academic guidelines.

Painting signatures

Many paintings from the First Empire are not signed, and neither are the backs of their frames. That's why it's important to have your work appraised.

Knowing the definite value of your painting

If you happen to own a First Empire 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 chartered auctioneers will contact you promptly with an estimate of the market value of your painting, and will provide you with all the relevant information. If you wish to sell your product, 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.