Pier Francesco Mola Auction Prices and Value Guide

Pier Francesco Mola auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 291 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Pier Francesco Mola auction prices: quick answer

Pier Francesco Mola auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.

Artist
Pier Francesco Mola
Source records
291
Market update
2026-02-06

Artist context

About Pier Francesco Mola

Pier Francesco Mola (1612–1666), known as Il Ticinese, was an Italian Baroque painter, fresco artist, etcher, and draftsman active primarily in Rome during the High Baroque period. Born in Coldrerio in the Ticino region and trained in Northern Italy, Mola developed a distinctive style that favored looser brushwork, naturalistic color, and atmospheric landscape elements over the strict classicism championed by contemporaries such as Andrea Sacchi. He received major Roman commissions, including his celebrated fresco depicting Joseph making himself known to his Brethren (1657) in the Quirinal Palace Gallery of Alexander VII. While respected as a frescoist, Mola is widely regarded as strongest in small-scale cabinet pictures and landscape compositions, which display a poetic and intimate quality. Collectors today encounter his work across paintings, drawings, and etchings, with holdings represented in major European museums and libraries.

High Baroqueoil paintingfrescoetchingdrawinglandscapesbiblical and narrative scenes

Common works and media

Mola's output includes oil paintings on canvas and panel (often mythological, biblical, or landscape subjects), monumental frescoes in Roman palaces, pen-and-wash drawings, and etchings. His landscapes typically feature figures set within atmospheric, wooded, or mountainous scenery. Small-scale cabinet paintings and oil sketches of pastoral and narrative themes are among the most frequently encountered work types at auction.

Market and appraisal context

Mola's works appear on the market as oil paintings, preparatory oil sketches, drawings, and etchings, primarily within Old Master sale categories. Attribution can be complex, as workshop productions and follower works in the Roman Baroque circle are sometimes catalogued under his name. Key valuation factors include whether the piece is an autograph work by Mola himself, its medium and scale, provenance history, and condition. His landscape-themed cabinet pictures are particularly sought after. RKD documents over 760 image entries associated with the artist, indicating a substantial body of extant work. Collectors should rely on specialist Old Master appraisal and published catalogue references when evaluating attribution and value.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Value drivers

  1. Attribution and authentication by Old Master specialists is critical; many workshop and follower works circulate under Mola's name
  2. Small cabinet pictures and landscapes are considered among his strongest works and may command particular collector interest
  3. Provenance, condition, and whether the work is a finished painting, preparatory oil sketch, or drawing significantly affect value
  4. RKD records over 760 image entries attributed to the artist or his circle, suggesting a substantial body of work exists in public and private collections

Appraisal caveats

  • No specific auction price records are included in the collected source pack; market commentary is based on general Old Master valuation factors and the artist's documented output scale.
  • Works attributed to Mola should be assessed by a qualified Old Master appraiser who can evaluate authenticity, condition, and provenance.

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 Pier Francesco Mola

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Pier Francesco Mola 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 Pier Francesco Mola artwork?

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