Albrecht Altdorfer Auction Prices and Value Guide

Albrecht Altdorfer auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 475 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Albrecht Altdorfer auction prices: quick answer

Albrecht Altdorfer auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.

Artist
Albrecht Altdorfer
Source records
475
Market update
2026-02-06

Artist context

About Albrecht Altdorfer

Albrecht Altdorfer (c. 1480–1538) was a German painter, engraver, architect, and draftsman active in Regensburg, Bavaria. A leading figure of the Danube School alongside Lucas Cranach the Elder and Wolf Huber, Altdorfer placed biblical and historical narratives within vividly colored landscape settings, a compositional approach that helped define the movement. He is widely recognized as one of the first Western artists to treat landscape as an independent pictorial subject rather than merely a backdrop. In addition to his painted works, Altdorfer produced intricate small-scale engravings and etchings, placing him among the so-called Nuremberg Little Masters. His career spanned the early decades of the sixteenth century, and his influence extended across both painting and printmaking in the German-speaking world. Collectors today encounter his work primarily through Old Master print and drawing sales, with oil paintings appearing only rarely on the market.

Danube SchoolNorthern Renaissanceoil paintingengravingdrawingetchinglandscapebiblical and historical subjects

Common works and media

Altdorfer is represented in auction contexts by small-format oil paintings on panel or parchment, engravings and etchings on paper (often biblical, mythological, or landscape subjects), pen-and-ink drawings with watercolor washes, and woodcuts. His engravings are typically intricate, small-scale compositions reflecting the Little Masters tradition. Painted works include both religious narratives set in panoramic landscapes and rare pure landscape scenes. Architectural designs are documented in scholarly sources but are not commonly traded at auction.

Market and appraisal context

Altdorfer's surviving oil paintings are exceptionally rare and, when they appear at auction, fall into the highest tier of Old Master sales. Most collectors will encounter his work through engravings, etchings, and drawings, which appear more regularly in Old Master print and drawing auctions. For any Altdorfer work, confirmed attribution is a primary value driver, as workshop participation and later copies complicate the field. Condition, provenance, impression quality for prints, and the specific subject matter all influence appraised value. Pure landscape subjects and works with strong Danube School characteristics tend to attract particular collector interest.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Value drivers

  1. Medium: oil paintings command significantly higher values than prints or drawings
  2. Subject: pure landscape works and Danube School compositions are especially sought by collectors
  3. Attribution: given the workshop practice common in the period, confirmed attribution to Altdorfer himself versus workshop assistants significantly affects value
  4. Print medium and impression quality: engravings and etchings are evaluated on plate mark, paper, impression sharpness, and state
  5. Provenance: documented ownership history through notable collections strengthens both attribution confidence and market value

Appraisal caveats

  • No major auction-house lot records were included in the source pack; realized-price comparisons require additional research.
  • Works on paper (engravings, etchings, drawings) are more commonly encountered at auction than oil paintings, which are exceedingly rare.
  • Condition is critical for 500-year-old works on paper and panel; restoration history materially affects value.

Evidence

Sources for artist context

This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.

Source-grounded artist Markdown

Data basis

This page is built from Appraisily's public auction market index. Private transactions, incomplete sale feeds, and attribution changes may not be fully represented.

LLM-readable Markdown summary for Albrecht Altdorfer

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Albrecht Altdorfer worth?

Comparable public auction sales are the best starting point, but final value depends on the specific artwork, condition, size, medium, provenance, and attribution confidence.

Can Appraisily value my Albrecht Altdorfer artwork?

Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.