> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/rene-descartes · updated 2026-11-01

# 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.

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

## 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.

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Data last updated 2026-11-01. OpeningBid tracks 15,222,099 auction lots from 571 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “René Descartes auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/rene-descartes (updated 2026-11-01).

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.