> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/francois-bonvin · updated 2026-11-03

# François Bonvin (1817–1887)

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

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 79 auction results for François Bonvin at 21 houses since 2004. Over the last 24 months the median price was $6,000 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,217–$7,639, n=9). The auction record is $256,660 for L'écolier (2010, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | L'écolier, 1874 | Painting | $256,660 | Christie's | Jul 2010 |
| 2 | Le bougeoir | Black chalk on paper | $85,000 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |
| 3 | Le Musicien, 1853 | Oil paint | $76,200 | Sotheby's | Feb 2026 |
| 4 | Nature morte à la bougie, 1817 | Still life painting | $45,307 | Christie's | May 2013 |
| 5 | Seated Woman Reading, 1853 | Charcoal | $44,450 | Sotheby's | Feb 2026 |
| 6 | Roses in a Vase, 1878 | Oil paint | $37,000 | Christie's | Apr 2008 |
| 7 | L'Ecole des soeurs; L'Ecole des frères | Painting | $30,480 | Sotheby's | May 2023 |
| 8 | The Cat | Oil paint | $30,480 | Sotheby's | May 2023 |
| 9 | Nature morte au potiron et aux oeufs | Huile sur toile | $27,342 | Sotheby's | Jun 2007 |
| 10 | Roses in a Vase, 1878 | Oil paint | $25,400 | Sotheby's | May 2019 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 11 | $6,779 |
| Paintings | 27 | $6,572 |
| Other | 18 | $6,393 |
| Prints | 7 | $497 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 47 | $4,445 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 79 results from 21 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


François Bonvin is a French artist with 110 auction lots recorded since 1990, median price $3,810. 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 Bonvin sold in 2026 for $6,779, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a François Bonvin work worth?

Across 75 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a François Bonvin work is $3,810.

The median François Bonvin painting sells for $6,174 across 35 lots.

The median François Bonvin work on paper sells for $3,415 across 18 lots.

The median François Bonvin print sells for $340 across 14 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) François Bonvin paintings typically sell for $2,039–$16,055 (the middle half of 31 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 | 18 | $340†‡ | $1,195 | 77.8% | 2024-11-27 |
| Paintings | 49 | $6,174†‡ | $256,660 | 71.4% | 2026-03-26 |
| Works on Paper | 22 | $3,415† | $44,450 | 81.8% | 2026-07-01 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 4 | $80,600 | $256,660 | — | 2026-02-04 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

François Bonvin's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (18 lots) median $340 with 77.8% sell-through. Paintings (49 lots) median $6,174, record $256,660. A typical François Bonvin painting sells for around 18× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 4 lots) the median is $80,600.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 13 | $245–$509†‡ | $329†‡ | $1,195 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 31 | $2,039–$16,055†‡ | $4,914†‡ | $256,660 |

† 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) | 14 | $2,231–$9,246† | $4,933† | $44,450 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2010 | $256,660 |
| Paintings | 2026 | $76,200 |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $44,450 |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $23,673 |
| Prints & Editions | 2012 | $1,195 |
| Prints & Editions | 2019 | $687 |

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 Bonvin worth?

Across 75 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a François Bonvin work is $3,810. The median François Bonvin painting sells for $6,174 across 35 lots. The median François Bonvin work on paper sells for $3,415 across 18 lots. The median François Bonvin print sells for $340 across 14 lots. Small (under 50 cm) François Bonvin paintings typically sell for $2,039–$16,055 (the middle half of 31 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 Bonvin painting?

Based on 35 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a François Bonvin painting is $6,174. 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 Bonvin's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a François Bonvin painting is $256,660.

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

Based on 18 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a François Bonvin work on paper is $3,415. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is François Bonvin's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a François Bonvin work on paper is $44,450.

### What is the average price of a François Bonvin print?

Based on 14 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a François Bonvin print is $340. 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 Bonvin's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a François Bonvin print is $1,195.

### What is the average price of a small François Bonvin painting?

Based on 31 sold lots, the median auction price of a small François Bonvin painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $4,914, 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 François Bonvin work on paper?

Based on 14 sold lots, the median auction price of a small François Bonvin work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $4,933, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is François Bonvin's auction record?

François Bonvin's auction record is $256,660, set in 2010.

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Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “François Bonvin auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/francois-bonvin (updated 2026-11-03).

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.