Pierre-Jean David d'Angers Auction Prices and Value Guide

Pierre-Jean David d'Angers auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 276 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Pierre-Jean David d'Angers auction prices: quick answer

Pierre-Jean David d'Angers auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.

Artist
Pierre-Jean David d'Angers
Source records
276
Market update
2026-02-06

Artist context

About Pierre-Jean David d'Angers

Pierre-Jean David d'Angers (1788–1856) was a French sculptor, medalist, and draftsman whose prolific output of portrait medallions earned him recognition as one of the foremost chroniclers of early nineteenth-century European cultural life. Born in Angers on March 12, 1788, he adopted the name David d'Angers after entering the Paris studio of the painter Jacques-Louis David in 1809, honoring his Angevin roots while distinguishing himself from his celebrated teacher. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he produced hundreds of bronze medallion portraits depicting writers, scientists, politicians, and fellow artists, creating an unmatched visual record of the era's intellectual elite. He also received major public commissions for architectural sculpture and funerary monuments, served as an academy lecturer, and was an active freemason. His sculptural style bridged the Neoclassical discipline of his training with an emerging Romantic expressiveness, particularly in his sensitive portrait work.

Neoclassicismbronze sculpturemedals and medallionsmarbleplasterportrait medallions of contemporary cultural and political figuresmonumental public sculpture and architectural reliefsfunerary monuments

Common works and media

Collectors and appraisers most commonly encounter David d'Angers' work in the form of cast bronze portrait medallions, typically round or oval, bearing profile likenesses of notable contemporaries from the arts, sciences, and politics. Other frequently seen work types include marble portrait busts, plaster casts and reductions, bas-relief plaques, small-scale bronze figurative sculptures, and ink or graphite preparatory drawings. Architectural sculptures and large public monuments exist primarily in situ and seldom appear at auction.

Market and appraisal context

David d'Angers' works appear at auction most frequently as bronze portrait medallions, which he produced in large numbers throughout his career. These are complemented by marble and plaster busts, bas-relief plaques, small bronze statuettes, and preparatory drawings. Condition, provenance, foundry marks, and whether a piece is a lifetime cast or later reproduction are primary factors in appraisal. Portrait medallions of historically significant sitters tend to generate stronger collector interest. Major monumental sculptures and architectural commissions are held in public collections and rarely come to market. The wide reproduction of his popular medallion designs means attribution and authenticity deserve careful attention.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Common auction categories

  • 19th Century European Sculpture
  • Medals and Medallions
  • European Decorative Art

Value drivers

  1. Medium: bronze portrait medallions, marble busts, plaster casts, bas-reliefs, and preparatory drawings each carry different market expectations
  2. Subject significance: portraits of historically prominent figures may attract stronger collector interest
  3. Cast timing and foundry marks: lifetime casts versus later editions significantly affect value
  4. Provenance and condition documentation
  5. Scale: monumental public commissions rarely appear at auction; small-scale works and medallions are more commonly encountered

Appraisal caveats

  • David d'Angers' popular medallion designs were widely reproduced in bronze; attribution and edition status require careful examination.
  • Some sources list death date as January 5, 1856, while Bénézit and Saur reference works cite January 6, 1856.
  • The 276 auction records associated with this artist on Appraisily suggest a well-represented but not high-volume auction presence, consistent with a 19th-century sculptor whose smaller works appear regularly while major sculptures come to market infrequently.

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 Pierre-Jean David d'Angers

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Pierre-Jean David d'Angers 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 Pierre-Jean David d'Angers artwork?

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