> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/jean-antoine-watteau · updated 2026-11-02

# Jean-Antoine Watteau (1684–1721)

## What is Jean-Antoine Watteau’s work worth? {#value}

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.

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

| # | 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 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 11 | $81,959 |
| Other | 19 | $35,560 |
| Paintings | 11 | $4,575 |
| Prints | 7 | $320 |

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

| 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](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


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.

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

## 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.

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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, “Jean-Antoine Watteau auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/jean-antoine-watteau (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.