Mario Avati Auction Prices and Value Guide
Mario Avati auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 483 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Mario Avati auction prices: quick answer
Mario Avati auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Mario Avati
- Source records
- 483
- Market update
- 2026-02-06
Artist context
About Mario Avati
Mario Avati (1921–2009) was a French printmaker, painter, and sculptor born in Monaco who became one of the foremost modern masters of mezzotint engraving. He trained at the École Nationale des Arts Décoratifs in Nice under Jules Lengrand and later at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he studied copper engraving with Robert Cami. After early work in drypoint and aquatint, Avati devoted himself exclusively to mezzotint from 1956 onward, building a reputation for rich tonal depth and meticulous craftsmanship. His prints are held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, and are represented in major institutional and library authority records worldwide. With nearly 500 works documented in auction databases, Avati is a frequently encountered name in the modern prints market.
20th-century French printmakingmezzotintaquatintdrypointlithographystill lifeanimals
Common works and media
Avati's output centers on mezzotint prints, often depicting still lifes, animals, and other natural forms rendered with the deep blacks and subtle gradations characteristic of the technique. He also produced aquatints, drypoints, lithographs, watercolours, pastels, and sculpture. Prints may appear as signed and numbered editions. Collectors encountering Avati at auction will most often find single-sheet mezzotint engravings, though portfolios and illustrated books with his prints also circulate.
Market and appraisal context
Avati's auction presence is dominated by mezzotint prints, the medium for which he is best known and most consistently valued. Post-1956 mezzotints from his mature period tend to attract the strongest collector interest. Key factors affecting appraisal include the quality of the impression, plate tone retention, edition size and numbering, subject matter, and condition (foxing, margins, and plate wear are common concerns with mezzotint). Collectors should also distinguish between his earlier drypoint and aquatint works and the later mezzotints, as market reception differs by medium.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Appraisal caveats
- No public price-trend data available in the source pack; collectors should consult recent auction results from major houses for current market levels
- Avati worked across multiple media; not all prints attributed to him are mezzotints, which affects comparative pricing
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- Library of Congress library authority
- RKD – Netherlands Institute for Art History library authority
- The Museum of Modern Art museum or university
- Wikidata library authority
- Getty Vocabulary Program library authority
- VIAF / OCLC 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 Mario Avati 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 Mario Avati artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.