Ernest Meissonier (1815–1891)
What is Ernest Meissonier’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 78 auction results for Ernest Meissonier at 33 houses since 1994. Over the last 24 months the median price was $736 including buyer’s premium (middle half $610–$1,137, n=12). The auction record is $37,066 for Napoleon during the "Campagne de France" (1999, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Napoleon during the "Campagne de France" | Bronze | $37,066 | Christie's | Jun 1999 |
| 2 | Painter at the easle, 1852 | Oil on panel | $30,980 | Koller Auktionen | Mar 2006 |
| 3 | Chien couché, 1815 | Huile sur panneau, traces de crayon de noir | $29,551 | Christie's | Nov 2009 |
| 4 | Néra, study for 'Portrait of a Sergeant' | Oil on panel | $21,097 | Sotheby's | Apr 2025 |
| 5 | Napoléon 1er en 1814 ou la campagne de France | Bronze | $20,623 | Tajan | Nov 2016 |
| 6 | Napoleon a Cheval | Bronze | $6,500 | Grogan & Company | Feb 2010 |
| 7 | The engraving connoisseur, 1871 | Oil on canvas | $6,119 | Koller Auktionen | Sep 2022 |
| 8 | Study of a Horse with Bridle and Saddle | Painting | $5,980 | Sotheby's | May 2022 |
| 9 | Le fumeur de pipe, 1815 | Huile sur panneau | $5,312 | Osenat | Mar 2023 |
| 10 | Deux hussards près d’un cheval en forêt, 1864 | Panneau | $4,822 | Crait + Müller | Jun 2018 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 23 | $1,397 |
| Other | 10 | $1,107 |
| Works on paper | 12 | $770 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 46 | $1,066 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 78 results from 33 houses · How we compute these figures
Ernest Meissonier is a French artist with 101 auction lots recorded since 1994, median price $1,170. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.
A work by Ernest Meissonier sold in 2026 for $4,702, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Ernest Meissonier record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Ernest Meissonier on OpeningBid →What is a Ernest Meissonier work worth?
Across 68 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ernest Meissonier work is $1,170.
The median Ernest Meissonier painting sells for $2,293 across 36 lots.
The median Ernest Meissonier work on paper sells for $621 across 22 lots.
The median Ernest Meissonier sculpture sells for $21,588 across 6 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Ernest Meissonier paintings typically sell for $1,051–$5,234 (the middle half of 34 sold lots).
Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
Price breakdown by category
| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 4 | $77†‡ | $4,894‡ | — | 2026-02-25 |
| Paintings | 43 | $2,293†‡ | $30,980 | 83.7% | 2025-11-13 |
| Works on Paper | 25 | $621†‡ | $2,995‡ | 88% | 2026-09-20 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 8 | $21,588‡ | $37,066 | 75% | 2024-12-03 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 5 | $29,551‡ | $37,066 | — | 2024-12-03 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Ernest Meissonier's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (4 lots) median $77. Paintings (43 lots) median $2,293, record $30,980. A typical Ernest Meissonier painting sells for around 30× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 5 lots) the median is $29,551.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 34 | $1,051–$5,234†‡ | $2,500†‡ | $30,980 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 19 | $420–$924†‡ | $618†‡ | $2,995‡ |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Sculpture & Installation
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $20,623–$22,553‡ | $22,553‡ | $37,066 |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 1999 | $37,066 |
| Paintings | 2006 | $30,980 |
| Paintings | 2009 | $29,551 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2024 | $22,553‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $4,894‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $2,995‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2019 | $2,750 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $93‡ |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Ernest Meissonier worth?
Across 68 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ernest Meissonier work is $1,170. The median Ernest Meissonier painting sells for $2,293 across 36 lots. The median Ernest Meissonier work on paper sells for $621 across 22 lots. The median Ernest Meissonier sculpture sells for $21,588 across 6 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Ernest Meissonier paintings typically sell for $1,051–$5,234 (the middle half of 34 sold lots). Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is the average price of a Ernest Meissonier painting?
Based on 36 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ernest Meissonier painting is $2,293. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is Ernest Meissonier's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Ernest Meissonier painting is $30,980.
What is the average price of a Ernest Meissonier work on paper?
Based on 22 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ernest Meissonier work on paper is $621. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is Ernest Meissonier's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Ernest Meissonier work on paper is $2,995. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
What is the average price of a small Ernest Meissonier painting?
Based on 34 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Ernest Meissonier painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,500, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is the average price of a small Ernest Meissonier work on paper?
Based on 19 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Ernest Meissonier work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $618, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is Ernest Meissonier's auction record?
Ernest Meissonier's auction record is $37,066, set in 1999.
See the full Ernest Meissonier record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Ernest Meissonier on OpeningBid →