Old Master Paintings
& Drawings

A Department, an Infinity of Ancient Works

The Old Masters & Drawings department records some of the most prestigious sales in the international art market. Old Masters represent an absolutely fascinating sector, and Paris has been internationally recognized since the 19th century as one of the most dynamic auction centers in the world.

At the heart of this, enthusiasts of Old Master paintings and drawings are curious and eager for works with remarkable provenance. By aligning with international art market events such as the Salon du Dessin in Paris, Fine Arts / La Biennale, or the Old Masters Weeks in the Anglo-Saxon world, sales of Old Master paintings and drawings in Paris attract the attention of the greatest collectors in this specialty.

Among their buyers are a wide range of profiles: from amateurs to collectors, investors to art lovers, as well as dealers, museums, and other cultural institutions—all sharing the desire to see and own works that have withstood the test of time. Reliable values because of their remarkable and noted qualities, we always aim to generate the widest possible enthusiasm. Museums, furthermore, regularly exercise their right of preemption, and we take great pleasure in seeing works that have passed through our hands enter into museum collections.

Painting : Honoring the Supreme Art

Long considered the quintessential major art form, Old Master painting has continually been at the heart of various active centers of artistic emulation, where many great names have emerged. Often linked, the graphic arts also present their own unique qualities. Whether a drawing is a preparatory sketch or created solely for itself, it becomes a spontaneous witness to the creative gesture that brought it into being.

Works grouped under the term "Old Masters" find their rightful place in Paris, a city internationally recognized as one of the most dynamic auction centers. Experienced collectors and casual enthusiasts alike cross paths here, closely following our sales, with keen eyes alert for the treasures they may uncover.

Paintings and drawings from Italian, French, and Northern Schools are lots that delight collectors, who with evident pleasure, discover historical, mythological subjects, as well as portraits, still lifes, and a multitude of works representing all the genres classified by the Royal Academy in 1667.

Old Master Drawings : Original Witnesses to the Creative Spirit

For the past 10 years, the market for Old Master drawings has exploded. Initially considered a very niche field, it has found a place of honor in Paris, where events and sales attract not only eminent specialists, researchers, and museum curators but also passionate enthusiasts from around the world. These masterpieces on paper continue to captivate us, as they spontaneously reveal the artistic impulse of their creators. Our sales of Old Master drawings, branded "L'Esprit Créateur," feature graphic works by great masters such as Tiepolo, Lemoyne, Greuze, Géricault, Delacroix, as well as numerous artists from the French, Italian, Dutch, and Flemish schools.

Between Seasoned Collectors and Enthusiastic Amateurs

Among buyers, we see a wide range of profiles: from hobbyists to collectors, investors to art lovers, and dealers to museums and cultural institutions, all of whom seek to own timeless works. These pieces are considered solid investments, both remarkable and highly regarded, and we strive to foster a wide-reaching enthusiasm. Museums, moreover, regularly exercise their right of preemption.

Rare Works, Remarkable Provenance & the Thrill of Bidding

Since its creation, Maison Aguttes has auctioned numerous important works, not only from the perspective of the market but also in terms of Art History.

Buyers' enthusiasm remains strong when it comes to acquiring the exceptional. This is evidenced by the results of a 15th-century Venetian Annunciation, which sold under the hammer for €897,000, and a Christ the Good Shepherd by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617-1682), which fetched €640,600.

Old Masters also cater to a certain allure for exoticism. After its rediscovery within a private collection, a representation of a marriage proposal by an 18th-century Ecuadorian School from Quito found its audience and was sold for €411,920. In the 19th century, the Chilean travels of painter Ernest Charton, depicted by bullfighters and a scene of life in Santiago, sparked the enthusiasm of our buyers. His works were sold for €103,750 and €137,500, respectively.

Highly appreciated by collectors, graphic arts stand out among the year's finest auction results. For instance, a drawing by Guercino (1591-1666) sold for €83,200. A preparatory work for two major altarpieces by the Bolognese painter, it wonderfully revealed the talents of someone recognized as a prolific and virtuosic draftsman. Our department's chronology reaches almost to the very edges of Academicism, and we were also pleased to rediscover a drawing by Eugène Delacroix (1798-1863), lost in a 20th-century collector's sketchbook, which was sold for €35,100. A sketch reflecting the artist's lifelong fascination with the Orient, it also highlighted the fervor and travel fever that swept artists in the 19th century.

Art by Women

For a long time, women were the great forgotten figures of art history. Today, however, they are at the heart of a renewed focus that allows us to discover the diversity of their talents. The enthusiasm for female artists continues to grow, a phenomenon in which our department actively participates.

Thus, a very subtle and delicate Still Life with a Bowl of Strawberries by Louyse Moillon (1610–1696), a 17th-century painter, was sold for 1.6 million euros. On the same day, a Self-Portrait by Marie-Gabrielle Capet (1761–1818), a student of Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun (1755–1842), was acquired by the National Museum of Sweden for 55,000 euros.

As a model for the painter Joseph-Siffred Duplessis (1725–1802), Marie Antoinette stirred nostalgia among her admirers and excitement among collectors. Identified within our department, this almost naturalistic portrait of the queen at the age of 16 gave us a glimpse of the final version, lost nearly a century ago. Both remarkable and highly noticed, the work was preempted for 175,000 euros by the Château de Versailles, where visitors can now admire it in all the freshness of her youth.

Constantly seeking new treasures to discover, study, and promote, our team of passionate specialists is at your service to welcome you and examine the works for which you seek a professional opinion. A painting or a drawing, whether signed or not, may always conceal a masterful hand. Covering a period from the Renaissance to the 19th century, still influenced by Academicism, our department is interested in all works and would be delighted to meet you.

Benefit from our expertise to auction Old Master paintings and drawings

The auction house offers a unique communication strategy and provides sellers with modern, targeted tools to ensure effective international exposure. We pay particular attention to the production of our auction catalogues, both in their design and content, whether in print or fully digital format. During our marketing campaigns, we engage buyers from our extensive client base across all specialties, as well as identified potential buyers. We reach out to them through multiple channels—online and offline advertising, social media, email campaigns, media coverage, influencers, and auction platforms—using high-quality and tailored content, including images, text, and video.

Free and confidential valuations of your Old Master paintings and drawings: expert guidance and value enhancement

Our experts travel throughout France and across Europe, working in collaboration with our regional offices to carry out valuations and appraisals of your works. Ahead of an appointment, you may also submit a valuation request by sending a description, photographs, and any available documentation related to the work via the online valuation form, or directly by email to our specialist.

Good to know: Our Old Master Paintings & Drawings department organizes an average of 4 auctions per year in Paris.