Rating and value of old paintings

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 carry out a free appraisal of your object, and provide you with a precise estimate of its value on the current market. Thereafter, if you wish to sell your painting, we will direct you to the best possible device to obtain the optimum price.

The price of a 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 painting

Antique paintings are quite highly rated. The price at which they sell on the art and auction market ranges from €10 to €20,000, for unattributed paintings, 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.

Order of value ranging from the simplest to the most prestigious painting, for artists not identified according to their schools

Reasons to have an antique painting appraised at auction

If you own an antique painting, you may be unaware of its true value. Many owners underestimate the importance of having these works appraised, sometimes thinking that an unsigned painting is devoid of interest.

However, the absence of a signature does not necessarily mean that the work is worthless. In some cases, specialized experts are able to identify the artist from stylistic or technical details, even if his or her name is not clearly inscribed.

Having a painting appraised can reveal surprises. If the artist is listed on the auction market, the value of the work could increase considerably.

It's not uncommon for paintings, once forgotten or misvalued, to fetch amounts far in excess of expectations once authenticated and offered at auction.

This is a situation that regularly arises when little-known works are attributed to artists whose value has soared, whether they be Renaissance painters or more recent artists.

Even when the artist remains unidentifiable, expertise often makes it possible to situate the work within a particular school or artistic movement. This too can influence the value of the piece.

For example, a painting attributed to the Flemish or Italian school of the 17th century might attract the attention of collectors, even without a precise name.

The stylistic characteristics specific to a school, whether in terms of color treatment, composition or architectural details, may be enough to arouse the interest of the art market.

In addition to monetary value, having an old painting appraised also offers an opportunity to learn more about its history and origin. The appraisal can reveal hidden aspects of the work, such as old restorations or elements concealed beneath the visible paint.

Thus, this approach goes beyond the simple question of price: it enables a better understanding and appreciation of a work's artistic heritage.

In short, having an antique painting appraised is an essential step for anyone looking to sell a work, preserve it or simply find out its true value. It can prove invaluable from both a financial and cultural point of view.

Defining an antique painting

An antique painting is distinguished by its creation in a bygone era, often marked by artistic currents that have shaped the history of art. It's a work painted on a flat surface, usually canvas, wood panel or sometimes even metal plate.

These works, which date back several centuries, are the fruit of the labors of artists who were able to immortalize their vision of the world through a variety of scenes: whether of daily life, portraits, landscapes or still lifes, each painting reflects the era and artistic currents of its time.

A work created before the 18th century, inclusive, is generally described as an old painting. This chronological criterion remains flexible, however, and can sometimes include works from the early 19th century, a period when late figurative academicism still dominated.

These paintings, although from a century of transition to modernism, can be considered old under certain conditions.

However, this categorization must be made with care, as the 19th century also marked the emergence of movements such as Romanticism, which while continuing certain traditions, initiated a break with the more classical styles of previous centuries.

Romantic paintings, with their exploration of human emotions and the wilderness, are sometimes also classified as antique, particularly when associated with traditional artists or currents.

This period, while paving the way for the avant-gardes of the 20th century, remains rooted in a sensibility close to centuries past, which explains why certain Romantic works can be found in the categories of antique paintings.

Thus, the definition of an antique painting is based not only on its age, but also on the aesthetic currents to which it belongs. The techniques used, the quality of execution and the materials employed are also decisive criteria.

A well-preserved antique painting can not only be of inestimable artistic value, but also offer a valuable window on the history and artistic developments of its era.

It is this combination of technique, subject and period that gives each antique painting a unique character sought after by collectors and art lovers.

The historical value of antique paintings

Antique paintings are much more than works of art: they are true silent witnesses to history, capturing not only moments of everyday life, but also the events, beliefs and customs that marked their era.

These works, painted centuries before, accurately depict the lifestyles and social transformations of their time, while immortalizing characters or historical facts of major importance.

Notable examples include portraits of sovereigns, such as Charles Martin's lifetime portrait of King Henry VI in armor, or Titian's majestic composition, Charles V on horseback at Mülhberg, which immortalizes a victory for propaganda purposes.

In the end, these paintings constitute archives and visual documents offering a profound understanding of the evolution of society and the great milestones of history.

Some artists, such as Eugène Delacroix, were able, with works like La bataille de Taillebourg menée par Saint Louis, to revisit historical events while infusing them with a unique dramatic and emotional dimension, thus reinforcing the painting's impact on the viewer.

The influence of history on art doesn't stop there. More contemporary artists, such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, have also drawn on the past to create works that, while inspired by ancient events, remain resolutely modern in their execution.

His abstract composition depicting the Medici family tree, although created in the last century, demonstrates this continuity between history and art, while also emphasizing that being inspired by an event from the past does not make the work an old painting.

In reality, the distinction of an old painting rests on much more than its subject. It is the combination of period of creation, technique and aesthetic currents that truly define a work as old.

These old paintings, by their very presence, provide access to a finer understanding of humanity's cultural and artistic heritage. They tell stories, but not only those visible on canvas: they are the guardians of a heritage, passed down from generation to generation, reminding everyone of the inseparable link between art and history.

The plurality of artistic currents

Naturally, the term old paintings covers a whole plurality of different artistic genres. From the Renaissance to François Boucher or Jean Baptise Greuze, there has been a plurality of ways of painting and new techniques have emerged.

At auction at Auctie's, old paintings from all over Europe were sold, from old religious paintings to old paintings from the Copenhagen school to old paintings from the United Provinces.

The most common works, however, remain oils on canvas, imbued with the academic canons established throughout Europe.

Rediscovery of a Pierre Mignard at the Musée de Versailles

Preservation and market value

The conservation of old paintings is a crucial issue in preserving our artistic heritage.

Private collectors play an important role in this preservation, Auctions of old paintings are often highly publicized, with prices sometimes reaching very high sums, making these works of art sought-after investments.

Signature of paintings

Many old paintings are not signed, and there can sometimes be inscriptions of numbers, which can potentially be useful for expertise. Here's an example.

Know the certain value of your painting

If you happen to own an antique painting of any school, or think you might, don't hesitate to request a free valuation using our form on our website.

A member of our team of experts and licensed auctioneers will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the market value of your painting, not forgetting to send you ad hoc information about it.

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 market inclinations.