Bernard Picart Auction Prices and Value Guide
Bernard Picart auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 404 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Bernard Picart auction prices: quick answer
Bernard Picart auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Bernard Picart
- Source records
- 404
- Market update
- 2026-02-16
Artist context
About Bernard Picart
Bernard Picart (1673–1733) was a French engraver, printmaker, etcher, and publisher who spent his most productive years in Amsterdam. Trained by his father, the engraver Etienne Picart (known as le Romain), Bernard mastered multiple printmaking techniques — engraving, etching, and mezzotint — and became one of the most prolific book illustrators of the early eighteenth century. He is best known for his ambitious illustrated survey of world religious practices, produced in collaboration with the scholar Jean-Frédéric Bernard, as well as extensive plate work for classical mythology, biblical narratives, and decorative title pages. After establishing himself in Paris, Picart relocated to Amsterdam around 1710, where he operated a large workshop and publishing enterprise until his death. His detailed, narrative-rich engravings circulated widely across Europe and remain a significant reference for the visual culture of the Enlightenment period.
Late Baroque / early Enlightenment-era printmakingengravingetchingmezzotintpaintingreligious ceremonies and customs of world peoplesclassical mythologybiblical scenesportraits
Common works and media
Picart's output spans engraved book illustrations, large-format ceremonial plates, mythological and biblical scene prints, portrait engravings, decorative title pages, and book-plate designs. He worked extensively in copper-plate engraving and etching, with some mezzotints. His most commonly encountered works at auction are individual engraved plates from illustrated volumes, particularly scenes depicting religious ceremonies, episodes from Ovid's Metamorphoses and the Hebrew Bible, and ornamental frontispieces. Complete or partial copies of his illustrated books also appear on the market.
Market and appraisal context
Bernard Picart's prints appear regularly at auction, especially single plates extracted from his illustrated books and complete bound volumes of his major works. Condition, impression quality, and whether a plate is an early pull or a later re-strike are primary factors in determining value. Large-format ceremonial or mythological engravings tend to attract stronger interest than smaller text illustrations. Collectors should be aware that Picart's workshop produced many plates after his designs, so attribution can be nuanced. Hand-colored examples and well-preserved impressions on original laid paper with good margins generally command a premium.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Appraisal caveats
- Picart's output was extremely large and many impressions survive; not all carry significant market value.
- Later re-strikes and reproductions of Picart plates are common; collectors should verify age and impression quality.
- Some works attributed to Picart were designed by him but engraved by others in his workshop or publishing circle.
- Market data in this profile reflects auction records available through Appraisily and Invaluable and may not capture all private sales.
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- RKD — Netherlands Institute for Art History library authority
- Wikidata library authority
- Getty Vocabulary Program library authority
- VIAF (OCLC) library authority
- Library of Congress library authority
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.
Artist value FAQ
How much is Bernard Picart 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 Bernard Picart artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.