Georges Clairin Auction Prices and Value Guide

Georges Clairin auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 456 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Georges Clairin auction prices: quick answer

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

Artist
Georges Clairin
Source records
456
Market update
2026-02-06

Artist context

About Georges Clairin

Georges Clairin (1843–1919) was a French painter, illustrator, and watercolorist associated with the Orientalist movement. Born in Paris, he trained in the academic tradition and developed a lasting fascination with North Africa, traveling repeatedly to Algeria, Morocco, and Egypt. These journeys shaped his distinctive scenes of Moorish architecture, bustling street life, and exotic interiors. In Paris, Clairin moved in elite social circles and became a close friend of the celebrated actress Sarah Bernhardt for over fifty years. He is today best known for his theatrical and informal portraits of Bernhardt, which capture both her public glamour and private persona. His versatile output also included decorative interior schemes, pastels, and book illustrations, reflecting a career that bridged fine art and the decorative traditions of Belle Époque France.

OrientalismOil paintingPastelWatercolorGouachePortraits of Sarah BernhardtNorth African and Middle Eastern scenesMoorish architectureInterior decoration

Common works and media

Clairin worked across a broad range of media. His most commonly encountered works include oil paintings of Orientalist scenes—North African street views, mosque interiors, and Moorish architectural studies—as well as portraits, particularly of Sarah Bernhardt in theatrical costume. He also produced pastels, watercolors, gouaches, and decorative interior paintings. Book and periodical illustrations form a further segment of his output. Signed works typically bear the signature 'G. Clairin.' The RKD records over 200 images attributed to him, suggesting a substantial body of work in circulation.

Market and appraisal context

Georges Clairin has an established and well-documented auction history spanning over two decades (2001–2025), with 117 catalogued lots and 53 priced results recorded in the Appraisily auction index. His work trades primarily through leading international and French regional houses—Sotheby's, Christie's, Osenat, Artcurial, Millon & Associés, and Tajan among them—indicating sustained institutional and collector demand. The price distribution is wide but characteristic of a productive Orientalist painter: the interquartile range runs from roughly €320 to €8,500, with a median near €1,780. Standout oil paintings of North African and Orientalist subjects reach into five figures (e.g., "Devant le Palais D…" achieved €20,800 at Osenat in December 2024, and an untitled work made €10,000 at OXIO in November 2025). Works on paper—pastels, watercolors, and drawings—typically realize between €200 and €5,000, while posters and prints trade well below €1,500. Auction liquidity has moderated recently: 5 lots appeared in the trailing twelve months versus 13 in the prior period, suggesting either a cyclical dip in consignments or selective seller behavior, but not a collapse in demand.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Common auction categories

  • 19th Century European Paintings
  • Orientalist Art
  • Works on Paper (pastels, watercolors, drawings)
  • Oil painting
  • Pastel

Value drivers

  1. Subject matter: Orientalist North African scenes and Sarah Bernhardt portraits are most sought after
  2. Medium: oil paintings generally command higher prices than works on paper
  3. Provenance and exhibition history affect value
  4. Condition, attribution certainty, and documented comparables from public auction records are key appraisal factors
  5. Medium: oil paintings of Orientalist subjects command the highest prices (€5,000–€20,000+); large-scale watercolors and pastels follow (€2,000–€8,500); drawings and studies trade lower (€200–€500); posters and prints under €1,500
  6. Subject matter: North African and Middle Eastern scenes, especially figures in architectural settings, attract the strongest bids; portraits of Sarah Bernhardt or theatrical subjects carry premium association value

Appraisal caveats

  • No single public catalogue raisonné was located in the collected sources; attribution should be verified against known signed works (signed 'G. Clairin') and expert opinion.
  • The source pack did not include major auction-house results; valuation observations are general and should be supplemented with comparable sale records.
  • Only 53 of 117 catalogued lots carry a recorded realized price; unsold or result-pending lots are excluded from the price distribution and may skew the median upward.
  • No public catalogue raisonné was identified; attribution relies on signature analysis ('G. Clairin') and expert opinion, and unsigned works carry heightened risk.

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 Georges Clairin

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Georges Clairin 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 Georges Clairin artwork?

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