# Mathurin Moreau artist context and auction value notes Canonical page: https://appraisily.com/artist/mathurin-moreau/ Profile generated: 2026-04-30T13:40:24.548Z Quality: high confidence, strong sources ## Artist identity - Birth date: 1822-11-18 - Death date: 1912-02-14 - Nationality: French - Movements: Academic art - Common media: sculpture (bronze, marble, plaster) ## About Mathurin Moreau Mathurin Moreau (1822–1912) was a French sculptor and entrepreneur recognized as one of the most prolific academic sculptors of the nineteenth century. Born in Dijon and active in Paris, he trained under Augustin Dumont and became known for allegorical, mythological, and figurative compositions in bronze and marble. Moreau belonged to a distinguished family of sculptors that included his brothers Hippolyte and Auguste Moreau, and he taught a generation of younger artists who carried academic sculptural traditions into the early twentieth century. His work was widely exhibited during his lifetime, and his models were cast in multiple editions by leading French foundries. Collectors today encounter his sculptures across a range of scales, from monumental public commissions to smaller decorative bronzes intended for the private market. ## Common works and media Collectors most frequently encounter Mathurin Moreau's work in the form of bronze figurines and tabletop sculptures depicting allegorical female figures, mythological subjects, and genre scenes. Marble busts and relief plaques also appear, along with larger-scale plaster maquettes for public monuments. Many of his bronze models were produced in reduced editions by French foundries, making medium-sized allegorical and romantic figurines the most commonly appraised category. Period examples range from candelabra and clock-case ornaments to freestanding garden sculpture. ## Market and appraisal context Mathurin Moreau maintains a deep and liquid secondary market. Appraisily's auction-record index traces 891 catalogued lots spanning 1994 to April 2026, of which 606 carry realized prices. The price distribution is wide: the minimum recorded price is $60 and the maximum is $3,800,000, with a median of $1,400, a 25th percentile of $750, and a 75th percentile of $3,250. This dispersion reflects the broad range of Moreau's output—from small decorative bronze editions to rare monumental or gilded-bronze compositions. Recent 12-month volume (92 priced lots) is only modestly below the prior 12-month volume (108 lots), indicating sustained collector demand rather than a declining market. Top-tier houses Sotheby's and Christie's appear alongside strong regional specialists (Flanders Auctions, Bonhams, Bernaerts Auctioneers, HVMC, Setdart, Freeman's | Hindman, Simpson Galleries), confirming broad institutional and trade interest across North America and Europe. ## Auction-house-backed market evidence Mathurin Moreau maintains a deep and liquid secondary market. Appraisily's auction-record index traces 891 catalogued lots spanning 1994 to April 2026, of which 606 carry realized prices. The price distribution is wide: the minimum recorded price is $60 and the maximum is $3,800,000, with a median of $1,400, a 25th percentile of $750, and a 75th percentile of $3,250. This dispersion reflects the broad range of Moreau's output—from small decorative bronze editions to rare monumental or gilded-bronze compositions. Recent 12-month volume (92 priced lots) is only modestly below the prior 12-month volume (108 lots), indicating sustained collector demand rather than a declining market. Top-tier houses Sotheby's and Christie's appear alongside strong regional specialists (Flanders Auctions, Bonhams, Bernaerts Auctioneers, HVMC, Setdart, Freeman's | Hindman, Simpson Galleries), confirming broad institutional and trade interest across North America and Europe. ### Appraisal notes An Appraisily appraisal for a Mathurin Moreau sculpture would anchor the valuation in the 606 priced auction records indexed here, filtered by comparable medium (bronze, marble, or plaster), scale, subject, and foundry attribution. The appraiser would photograph the work, record exact dimensions, note the signature style and location, assess patina condition and any restoration, identify any foundry marks (Val d'Osne, Barbedienne, Susse Frères, etc.), check for edition numbering, and document provenance. These attributes would then be matched against the closest recent lots—such as the gilded-bronze 'Venus of the Mirror' that realized €5,000 at Setdart (Nov 2025), the large 'Putto with Torch' lamp at €4,000 at Flanders Auctions (Feb 2026), or the Monte-Carlo lot that realized €36,000 (Feb 2025)—to establish a supportable fair-market or replacement-value range. The wide interquartile spread ($750–$3,250) underscores why medium-specific and scale-specific comparable selection is critical; an appraisal based solely on the median would misprice both small decorative figurines and important large-scale works. ### Valuation factors - Medium and material: bronze, marble, and plaster versions of the same model command different values; gilded-bronze examples (e.g., 'Venus of the Mirror' at €5,000) tend to outperform standard patinated bronze of similar scale. - Scale and complexity: large or multi-figure compositions such as 'Putto with Torch' (€4,000) and the Monte-Carlo lot (€36,000) significantly exceed tabletop allegorical figures ($300–$1,250). - Foundry marks and edition: stamps from Val d'Osne, Barbedienne, or Susse Frères, and any edition numbering, help distinguish lifetime casts from later reproductions and affect value materially. - Subject and title: named models such as 'La Rosée,' 'Le Torrent,' 'La Tempête,' and 'Primavera' appear repeatedly at auction; recognizing the specific model aids comparable-lot selection. - Attribution within the Moreau family: Mathurin, Hippolyte, and Auguste Moreau all produced bronze sculpture; confirming the correct hand via signature style and foundry documentation is essential. - Condition and patina: original patina quality, absence of repairs or re-patination, and structural integrity of lamp or clock-case variants all influence appraised value. ### Collector notes - Moreau's bronzes trade frequently—roughly 8 to 9 priced lots per month—so collectors can usually find comparable sales within the past year. Entry-level decorative bronzes (under $1,000) are abundant, but buyers should verify foundry marks and signature authenticity, as posthumous and reproduction casts circulate. Mid-range allegorical figures ($1,000–$5,000) represent the most active segment and include well-documented models like 'L'Echo,' 'La Libellule,' and 'Allegory of Music.' Exceptional or large-scale works (above $10,000) are rarer and tend to sell through major houses (Sotheby's, Christie's, HVMC); provenance documentation is especially important at this tier. Functional objects—bronze lamps ('Return from the Hunt,' 'Putto with Torch') and clock-case sculptures ('Primavera')—form a distinct sub-market with their own price points. Given the family attribution risk, collectors acquiring any Moreau bronze should retain clear photographic records of the signature, foundry mark, and any edition numbers. ### Market caveats - The $60–$3,800,000 price range is extremely wide; the vast majority of lots cluster between $300 and $5,000, and the maximum likely represents a museum-quality or monumental work that is not comparable to typical collector pieces. - Some lots listed as 'Mathurin Moreau' may be after or attributed to rather than by the artist; the Setdart lot titled 'd'après' and similar attributions should not be used as direct comparables without adjustment. - Currency mix (USD and EUR predominating) means cross-rate effects can distort price comparisons; appraisals should convert all comparables to a single currency using the rate on the sale date. - The 891-lot dataset includes unsold lots (several recent 'Allegory of Music' listings show no price realized), which are not indicative of market value. - Moreau models were widely reproduced both during his lifetime and posthumously by multiple foundries; without foundry documentation, distinguishing period casts from later editions is difficult and affects value significantly. ### Market evidence sources - undefined: https://appraisily.com/api/scraper-search/artists/mathurin-moreau/seo-profile?recentLimit=24&relatedLimit=0 - undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-mathurin-moreau-la-rosee-bronze-sculpture-21-c-1ae57fa9c6 - undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-mathurin-moreau-french-1822-1912-bronze-sculpture-of-a-classical-woman-168-c-197913011e - undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-mathurin-moreau-la-libellule-bronze-sculpture-465-c-c524ffba44 - undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-mathurin-moreau-1822-1912-putto-with-torch-a-large-and-exceptional-lamp-patinated-bronze-496-c-ae6546506b - undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-mathurin-moreau-dijon-1822-paris-1912-venus-of-the-mirror-gilded-bronze-signed-94-c-f08748567e - undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-mathurin-moreau-1822-1912-405b-c-e37430f949 - undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-mathurin-moreau-dijon-1822-paris-1912-le-torrent-patinated-bronze-signed-on-87-c-09f7e4dc67 - undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-mathurin-moreau-french-1822-1912-allegory-of-spring-mid-19th-century-363-c-113427682b ## Appraisily data basis Appraisily artist pages combine structured artist identity research from library authority files, museum records, and biographical databases with available auction records, sale dates, realized prices, and comparable lot data. For Mathurin Moreau, identity data is drawn from VIAF, RKD, and Wikidata authority files, supplemented by biographical context from public sources. ## Sources - RKD – Netherlands Institute for Art History: https://rkd.nl/en/explore/artists/213890 - VIAF (OCLC): https://viaf.org/viaf/30700454/ - Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1805358 - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathurin_Moreau - Getty Vocabulary Program: https://vocab.getty.edu/page/ulan/500322828