Jean-Antoine Watteau (1684–1721)
What is Jean-Antoine Watteau’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 53 auction results for Jean-Antoine Watteau at 14 houses since 1999. Over the last 24 months the median price was $11,000 including buyer’s premium (middle half $559–$148,459, n=7). The auction record is $3,420,000 for Three head studies of a girl wearing a hat (2022, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Three head studies of a girl wearing a hat, 1721 | Graphite | $3,420,000 | Christie's | Oct 2022 |
| 2 | Five studies of children, 1721 | Red chalk | $1,240,970 | Christie's | Jul 2013 |
| 3 | A Man Playing the Guitar | Chalk | $825,500 | Sotheby's | Feb 2026 |
| 4 | L'alliance de la Musique et de la Comédie, 1721 | Huile sur toile | $379,789 | Christie's | Jun 2024 |
| 5 | A portrait of Nicolas Vleughels, seated and looking down to the left, tuning his violin, 1721 | Red, black and white chalk on light brown paper | $317,000 | Christie's | Jan 2016 |
| 6 | Homme de profil coiffé d'un bonnet, 1721 | Crayon noir, estompe et sanguine | $270,513 | Artcurial | Mar 2017 |
| 7 | La Bièvre à Gentilly | Oil paint | $261,358 | Sotheby's | Jun 2025 |
| 8 | Head of a man, 1721 | Red chalk | $248,000 | Christie's | Jan 2002 |
| 9 | A seated lady | Graphite and red and white chalk, with touches of black chalk | $228,677 | Sotheby's | Jul 2024 |
| 10 | La Chute d'eau, 1721 | Oil paint | $196,782 | Christie's | Jul 2009 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 11 | $81,959 |
| Other | 19 | $35,560 |
| Paintings | 11 | $4,575 |
| Prints | 7 | $320 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 35 | $15,046 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 10 | $2,506 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 53 results from 14 houses · How we compute these figures
Jean-Antoine Watteau is a French artist with 65 auction lots recorded since 1999, median price $15,011. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.
A work by Jean-Antoine Watteau sold in 2026 for $825,500, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Jean-Antoine Watteau record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Jean-Antoine Watteau on OpeningBid →What is a Jean-Antoine Watteau work worth?
Across 50 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Jean-Antoine Watteau work is $15,011.
The median Jean-Antoine Watteau work on paper sells for $54,191 across 31 lots.
The median Jean-Antoine Watteau painting sells for $1,852 across 12 lots.
The median Jean-Antoine Watteau print sells for $358 across 8 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Jean-Antoine Watteau work on papers typically sell for $8,625–$238,339 (the middle half of 27 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 | 10 | $358 | $1,163 | 80% | 2025-02-28 |
| Paintings | 16 | $1,852† | $379,789 | 75% | 2026-10-15 |
| Works on Paper | 32 | $54,191‡ | $3.4M | 96.9% | 2026-02-05 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 14 | $254,679 | $3.4M | — | 2026-02-04 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Jean-Antoine Watteau's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (10 lots) median $358 with 80% sell-through. Paintings (16 lots) median $1,852, record $379,789. A typical Jean-Antoine Watteau painting sells for around 5.2× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 14 lots) the median is $254,679.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $305–$601 | $396 | $1,163 |
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 9 | $425–$42,429† | $437† | $379,789 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 27 | $8,625–$238,339‡ | $43,700‡ | $3.4M |
‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $3.4M |
| Works on Paper | 2013 | $1.2M |
| Paintings | 2024 | $379,789 |
| Paintings | 2009 | $196,782 |
| Prints & Editions | 2018 | $1,163 |
| Prints & Editions | 2013 | $776 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Jean-Antoine Watteau worth?
Across 50 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Jean-Antoine Watteau work is $15,011. The median Jean-Antoine Watteau work on paper sells for $54,191 across 31 lots. The median Jean-Antoine Watteau painting sells for $1,852 across 12 lots. The median Jean-Antoine Watteau print sells for $358 across 8 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Jean-Antoine Watteau work on papers typically sell for $8,625–$238,339 (the middle half of 27 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 Jean-Antoine Watteau work on paper?
Based on 31 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jean-Antoine Watteau work on paper is $54,191. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Jean-Antoine Watteau's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Jean-Antoine Watteau work on paper is $3,420,000.
What is the average price of a Jean-Antoine Watteau painting?
Based on 12 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jean-Antoine Watteau painting is $1,852. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Jean-Antoine Watteau's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Jean-Antoine Watteau painting is $379,789.
What is the average price of a small Jean-Antoine Watteau work on paper?
Based on 27 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Jean-Antoine Watteau work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $43,700, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Jean-Antoine Watteau's auction record?
Jean-Antoine Watteau's auction record is $3,420,000, set in 2022.
See the full Jean-Antoine Watteau record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Jean-Antoine Watteau on OpeningBid →