Jacques-Louis David (1748–1825)
What is Jacques-Louis David’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 61 auction results for Jacques-Louis David at 21 houses since 2004. Over the last 24 months the median price was $9,033 including buyer’s premium (middle half $6,556–$14,208, n=12). The auction record is $3,440,754 for Portrait of General Baron Claude-Marie Meunier (2023, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portrait of General Baron Claude-Marie Meunier | Oil on canvas, unlined, on its original stretcher and in its original frame | $3,440,754 | Sotheby's | Jul 2023 |
| 2 | The Distribution of the Eagle Standards, 1748 | Oil paint | $2,535,000 | Christie's | May 2019 |
| 3 | alexander, apelles and campaspe, 1813 | Pen and black ink, grey and light beige wash heightened with white over black chalk;signed and dated in pen and black ink on the pedestal of the chair of Apelles: L. David. 1813A dedicatory letter in pen and ink attached to the backing of the frame: Alexandre, Apelles et Campaspe./Par Louis David/1812. [sic] /J'ai l'honneur d'offrir à ma digne/Elève, Mademoiselle Léonie Dusseuil,/ce dessin d'un grand peintre, dont les/oeuvres sont un modèle de style, de goût/et de caractère./En appréciant/ces rares mérites,/Mademoiselle Léonie Saura y joindra/la grace, l'esquise delicatesse de l' esprit /et les nobles élans de l'âme, qui/distinguent son remarquable talent ./Aug.te Couder/élève de L. David./1er avril 1868 | $1,056,297 | Sotheby's | Jul 2009 |
| 4 | The Death of Socrates, 1748 | Graphite | $593,000 | Christie's | Jan 2015 |
| 5 | the ghost of septimus severus appearing to caracalla, after the murder of his brother geta | Bears numbering in brown ink, verso: 570; pen and gray and brown ink and gray wash over black chalk, with touches of white heightening | $480,000 | Sotheby's | Jan 2007 |
| 6 | the death of marat | Graphite | $266,169 | Sotheby's | Jul 2007 |
| 7 | The Poetess Sappho | Oil on canvas | $241,000 | Sotheby's | Jan 2008 |
| 8 | LE VIEIL HORACE DÉFENDANT SON FILS | Plume et encre noire sur traits de crayon noir | $99,491 | Tajan | May 2012 |
| 9 | two roman altars with the epitaphs d.i.s manibus | — | $32,200 | Sotheby's | Jan 2008 |
| 10 | Portrait of Pope Pius VII, 1817 | Pen and black ink on limestone | $26,513 | Sotheby's | Jun 2025 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 23 | $8,255 |
| Other | 15 | $7,966 |
| Paintings | 9 | $6,250 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 33 | $7,400 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 7 | $3,021 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 61 results from 21 houses · How we compute these figures
Jacques-Louis David is a French artist with 78 auction lots recorded since 2004, median price $6,296. 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 Jacques-Louis David sold in 2026 for a hammer price of $28,663 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
1 Jacques-Louis David work is coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Jacques-Louis David free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Jacques-Louis David record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Jacques-Louis David on OpeningBid →What is a Jacques-Louis David work worth?
Across 59 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Jacques-Louis David work is $6,296.
The median Jacques-Louis David work on paper sells for $7,895 across 37 lots.
The median Jacques-Louis David painting sells for $4,418 across 10 lots.
The median Jacques-Louis David print sells for $341 across 3 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Jacques-Louis David work on papers typically sell for $4,558–$14,668 (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 | 6 | $341‡ | $1,075 | 50% | 2025-04-25 |
| Paintings | 11 | $4,418†‡ | $3.4M | 90.9% | 2024-01-31 |
| Works on Paper | 43 | $7,895†‡ | $2.5M | 86% | 2026-06-16 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $196 | $196 | — | 2024-04-03 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 7 | $593,000 | $3.4M | — | 2023-07-05 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Jacques-Louis David's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (6 lots) median $341 with 50% sell-through. Paintings (11 lots) median $4,418, record $3,440,754. A typical Jacques-Louis David painting sells for around 13× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 7 lots) the median is $593,000.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $1,321–$5,406†‡ | $2,204†‡ | $3.4M |
† 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) | 31 | $4,558–$14,668†‡ | $7,966†‡ | $593,000 |
† 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 | 2023 | $3.4M |
| Works on Paper | 2019 | $2.5M |
| Works on Paper | 2009 | $1.1M |
| Paintings | 2006 | $6,296 |
| Prints & Editions | 2011 | $1,075 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $341‡ |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2024 | $196 |
‡ 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 Jacques-Louis David worth?
Across 59 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Jacques-Louis David work is $6,296. The median Jacques-Louis David work on paper sells for $7,895 across 37 lots. The median Jacques-Louis David painting sells for $4,418 across 10 lots. The median Jacques-Louis David print sells for $341 across 3 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Jacques-Louis David work on papers typically sell for $4,558–$14,668 (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 Jacques-Louis David work on paper?
Based on 37 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jacques-Louis David work on paper is $7,895. 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 Jacques-Louis David's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Jacques-Louis David work on paper is $2,535,000.
What is the average price of a Jacques-Louis David painting?
Based on 10 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jacques-Louis David painting is $4,418. 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 Jacques-Louis David's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Jacques-Louis David painting is $3,440,754.
What is the average price of a small Jacques-Louis David work on paper?
Based on 31 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Jacques-Louis David work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $7,966, 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 Jacques-Louis David's auction record?
Jacques-Louis David's auction record is $3,440,754, set in 2023.
See the full Jacques-Louis David record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Jacques-Louis David on OpeningBid →