# Auguste Edouart artist context and auction value notes

Canonical page: https://appraisily.com/artist/auguste-edouart/
Profile generated: 2026-05-30T05:27:18.455Z
Quality: high confidence, strong sources

## Artist identity

- Nationality: French
- Movements: 19th-century silhouette portraiture
- Common media: Cut-paper silhouettes, Drawing, Wax modelling, Painting

## About Auguste Edouart

Auguste Edouart (1789–1861), born Augustin-Amant-Constant-Fidèle Edouart in France, was one of the most prolific and celebrated silhouette artists of the 19th century. He specialized in cut-paper profile portraits, producing thousands of likenesses during a career that took him from France to England, Scotland, and the United States. Edouart's work stands out for its delicacy and precision: he cut his silhouettes freehand from black paper without preliminary sketches, often capturing full-length figures and group compositions with remarkable detail. His sitters ranged from ordinary citizens to prominent public figures and aristocrats. Edouart maintained albums of duplicate cuts that now serve as important records for attribution and provenance. His contributions to the art of silhouette portraiture are documented in major reference works including Bénézit, Thieme/Becker, and the Saur Allgemeines Künstlerlexikon.

## Common works and media

Edouart's most commonly encountered works are black cut-paper silhouette portraits mounted on white or cream card or paper. These range from simple bust-length profiles to elaborate full-length compositions depicting individuals, couples, families, and social groups engaged in period activities. He also produced silhouettes on glass, painted silhouette embellishments, wax portraits, drawings, and paintings. His American-period works (1840s–1850s) often depict notable figures of the era and are especially collected. Original frames, cases, or backing papers with Edouart's printed labels accompany many surviving examples.

## Market and appraisal context

Auguste Edouart's silhouettes appear regularly at auction, reflecting his large output over several decades. Factors that influence appraisal include whether a piece is signed or carries Edouart's embossed stamp, the complexity of the composition (full-length and group silhouettes tend to be more desirable than simple bust profiles), the identity and historical significance of the sitter, and the condition of the paper, backing, and framing. Provenance linking a silhouette to Edouart's own duplicate albums provides strong attribution support. Collectors should be aware that many 19th-century silhouette artists worked in similar techniques, so expert examination is advisable for firm attribution.

## Appraisily data basis

This Appraisily artist page combines published artist identity research from Getty ULAN, VIAF, RKD, Wikidata, and Library of Congress authority files with auction-house context, sale records, and comparable lot data from the Invaluable database when available. Biographical details are cross-referenced across multiple independent sources. Market observations are general and not price predictions; collectors should consult a qualified appraiser for item-specific valuations.

## Sources

- Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2870949
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auguste_Edouart
- Getty Vocabulary Program: https://vocab.getty.edu/page/ulan/500119964
- VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/6214363/
- Library of Congress: https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n79095173
- RKD (Netherlands Institute for Art History): https://rkd.nl/en/explore/artists/25496