> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/jacques-louis-david-3 · updated 2026-11-03

# Jacques-Louis David (1748–1825)

## What is Jacques-Louis David’s work worth? {#value}

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 62 auction results for Jacques-Louis David at 22 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.

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

| # | 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 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 23 | $8,255 |
| Other | 15 | $7,966 |
| Paintings | 9 | $6,250 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 33 | $7,400 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 7 | $3,021 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 62 results from 22 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Jacques-Louis David is a French artist with 79 auction lots recorded since 2004, median price $6,273. 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 2026-11-03).

- [Jacques-Louis David on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/jacques-louis-david?ref=kg:jacques-louis-david) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Jacques-Louis David work worth?

Across 60 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Jacques-Louis David work is $6,273.

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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is a Jacques-Louis David worth?

Across 60 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Jacques-Louis David work is $6,273. 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.

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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, “Jacques-Louis David auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/jacques-louis-david-3 (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.