> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/francois-arnal · updated 2026-11-02

# François Arnal (1924–2024)

## What is François Arnal’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 180 auction results for François Arnal at 26 houses since 1992. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,729 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,005–$3,304, n=11). The auction record is $82,088 for Peinture matricielle (2022, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

**Top auction records: paintings, drawings & sculpture**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peinture matricielle, 1962 | Oil paint | $82,088 | Sotheby's | Oct 2022 |
| 2 | Elice, 1924 | Stained acrylic glass | $53,484 | Christie's | Jun 2021 |
| 3 | Les suggestions, 1963 | Oil, ink and acrylic on canvas | $20,151 | Sotheby's | Jun 2023 |
| 4 | Plus vite que le son (série des élémentaires) | Huile sur toile | $19,738 | Sotheby's | Dec 2007 |
| 5 | ANALOGIE XIII MACHINERIE POUR UN OPERA ET 64 LES MOULINS, 1964 | Acrylique sur toile | $11,482 | Artcurial | Oct 2007 |
| 6 | LES FUSILLÉES (SÉRIE DES ÉLÉMENTAIRES), 1983 | Mixed media on canvas | $10,734 | Tajan | Nov 2019 |
| 7 | On est loin des morts, 1957 | Huile sur toile | $10,378 | Artcurial | Oct 2012 |
| 8 | DRAPEAU POUR UN ETAT AFRICAIN, 1977 | Signée en bas à droite "Arnal" | $10,316 | Artcurial | Mar 2020 |
| 9 | CARNET DE MOTS : LE VERROU ET L’ÉCHEVEAU, 1993 | Technique mixte sur toile; Mixed media | $8,945 | Tajan | Nov 2019 |
| 10 | L'eplucheuse de pommes de terre, 1948 | Oil | $8,911 | Cornette de Saint Cyr (Bonhams) | Dec 1992 |


**Median price by medium (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 70 | $2,513 |
| Other | 63 | $718 |

**Median price by size (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 18 | $4,128 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 56 | $1,829 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 37 | $502 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 180 results from 26 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


François Arnal is a French artist with 237 auction lots recorded since 1992, median price $1,626. 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 François Arnal sold in 2026 for $7,279, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**1 François Arnal work is coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [François Arnal on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/francois-arnal?ref=kg:francois-arnal) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a François Arnal work worth?

Across 180 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a François Arnal work is $1,626.

The median François Arnal painting sells for $2,463 across 84 lots.

The median François Arnal work on paper sells for $515 across 11 lots.

The median François Arnal print sells for $179 across 5 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) François Arnal paintings typically sell for $1,647–$3,575 (the middle half of 49 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 | 6 | $179 | $203 | 83.3% | 2023-06-29 |
| Paintings | 100 | $2,463†‡ | $82,088 | 84% | 2026-06-30 |
| Works on Paper | 15 | $515†‡ | $3,090 | 73.3% | 2025-12-02 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2 | $2,800 | $4,584 | — | 2021-06-01 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 9 | $12,554† | $82,088 | — | 2023-06-07 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

François Arnal's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (6 lots) median $179 with 83.3% sell-through. Paintings (100 lots) median $2,463, record $82,088. A typical François Arnal painting sells for around 14× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 9 lots) the median is $12,554.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 49 | $1,647–$3,575†‡ | $2,353†‡ | $82,088 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 15 | $2,310–$5,102†‡ | $3,806†‡ | $20,151 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2022 | $82,088 |
| Paintings | 2023 | $20,151 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2021 | $4,584 |
| Works on Paper | 2011 | $3,090 |
| Works on Paper | 1992 | $1,062 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2015 | $1,016 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $203 |
| Prints & Editions | 2016 | $201 |

The highest recorded result in each medium. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is a François Arnal worth?

Across 180 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a François Arnal work is $1,626. The median François Arnal painting sells for $2,463 across 84 lots. The median François Arnal work on paper sells for $515 across 11 lots. The median François Arnal print sells for $179 across 5 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) François Arnal paintings typically sell for $1,647–$3,575 (the middle half of 49 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 François Arnal painting?

Based on 84 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a François Arnal painting is $2,463. 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 François Arnal's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a François Arnal painting is $82,088.

### What is the average price of a François Arnal work on paper?

Based on 11 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a François Arnal work on paper is $515. 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 François Arnal's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a François Arnal work on paper is $3,090.

### What is the average price of a medium François Arnal painting?

Based on 49 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium François Arnal painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,353, 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 large François Arnal painting?

Based on 15 sold lots, the median auction price of a large François Arnal painting (large (over 120 cm)) is $3,806, 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 François Arnal's auction record?

François Arnal's auction record is $82,088, set in 2022.

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Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “François Arnal auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/francois-arnal (updated 2026-11-02).

Historical auction data, not investment advice. Prices are premium-inclusive USD where the buyer's premium is recorded. Figures marked † are hammer prices (buyer's premium not included); ‡ marks a price whose basis is not yet verified. Non-USD results are converted at the sale month's rate.