René Descartes (1596–1650)
René Descartes is a French artist with 26 auction lots recorded since 2006, median price $1,007. 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 René Descartes sold in 2025 for $1,270, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full René Descartes record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View René Descartes on OpeningBid →What is a René Descartes work worth?
Across 20 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a René Descartes work is $1,007.
The median René Descartes print sells for $1,749 across 11 lots.
The median René Descartes sculpture sells for $1,127 across 2 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 | 13 | $1,749†‡ | $76,913 | 84.6% | 2025-11-19 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2 | $1,127† | $1,300† | — | 2022-09-30 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $3,262–$20,624‡ | $7,170‡ | $76,913 |
‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2015 | $76,913 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $25,008 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2022 | $1,300† |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2013 | $954† |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a René Descartes worth?
Across 20 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a René Descartes work is $1,007. The median René Descartes print sells for $1,749 across 11 lots. The median René Descartes sculpture sells for $1,127 across 2 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 René Descartes print?
Based on 11 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a René Descartes print is $1,749. 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 René Descartes's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a René Descartes print is $76,913.
What is René Descartes's auction record?
René Descartes's auction record is $76,913, set in 2015.
See the full René Descartes record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View René Descartes on OpeningBid →