> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/thomas-couture · updated 2026-11-03

# Thomas Couture (1815–1879)

## What is Thomas Couture’s work worth? {#value}

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 59 auction results for Thomas Couture at 23 houses since 1999. Over the last 24 months the median price was $4,430 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,027–$6,559, n=6). The auction record is $288,550 for Study for 'The Decadence of the Romans' (2013, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Study for 'The Decadence of the Romans' | Black and white chalk on faded blue paper | $288,550 | Christie's | Jan 2013 |
| 2 | Girl in profile, 1815 | Oil on canvas | $65,225 | Bonhams | Feb 2019 |
| 3 | Girl in profile, 1815 | Painting | $65,225 | Bonhams | Feb 2019 |
| 4 | Horace et Lydie, 1879 | Fusain et rehauts de craie blanche sur papier gris | $63,098 | Artcurial | Mar 2017 |
| 5 | Portrait de jeune fille | Huile sur toile | $42,705 | Christie's | Jun 2019 |
| 6 | TWO SISTERS (STUDY FOR "THE PROMISES" IN THE ENROLLMENT OF THE VOLUNTEERS OF 1792) | Oil paint | $37,500 | Sotheby's | Oct 2019 |
| 7 | Le chasseur à pied, étude pour 'Le baptême du prince impérial', 1856 | Oil paint | $30,000 | Christie's | Apr 2019 |
| 8 | Damoclès assis, 1879 | Crayon noir et craie blanche sur papier bleu | $23,780 | Artcurial | Jun 2021 |
| 9 | Portrait of a Lady, probably a Study of the Artist's Daughter, Berthe, 1815 | Oil paint | $14,000 | Christie's | May 2025 |
| 10 | Portrait de femme, 1815 | Oil paint | $12,846 | Christie's | Jan 2013 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 12 | $5,234 |
| Other | 11 | $3,678 |
| Paintings | 17 | $3,480 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 10 | $4,885 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 23 | $3,286 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 59 results from 23 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Thomas Couture is a French artist with 79 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $2,948. 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 Thomas Couture sold in 2026 for $6,139, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**1 Thomas Couture work is coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-03).

- [Thomas Couture on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/thomas-couture?ref=kg:thomas-couture) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Thomas Couture work worth?

Across 56 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Thomas Couture work is $2,948.

The median Thomas Couture painting sells for $2,906 across 30 lots.

The median Thomas Couture work on paper sells for $3,179 across 20 lots.

The median Thomas Couture photograph sells for $167 across 1 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Thomas Couture paintings typically sell for $799–$7,184 (the middle half of 20 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 | 2 | — | — | 0% | — |
| Paintings | 35 | $2,906†‡ | $65,225 | 85.7% | 2026-06-16 |
| Works on Paper | 24 | $3,179†‡ | $288,550 | 83.3% | 2026-03-25 |
| Photography | 1 | $167 | $167 | — | 2023-02-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 3 | $65,225 | $288,550 | — | 2019-02-20 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 20 | $799–$7,184†‡ | $2,500†‡ | $65,225 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 7 | $1,598–$10,349† | $2,995† | $37,500 |

† 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) | 12 | $1,338–$5,113‡ | $2,523‡ | $8,093 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $1,977–$23,268† | $2,871† | $288,550 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2013 | $288,550 |
| Paintings | 2019 | $65,225 |
| Works on Paper | 2017 | $63,098 |
| Paintings | 1999 | $45,499 |
| Photography | 2023 | $167 |

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 Thomas Couture worth?

Across 56 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Thomas Couture work is $2,948. The median Thomas Couture painting sells for $2,906 across 30 lots. The median Thomas Couture work on paper sells for $3,179 across 20 lots. The median Thomas Couture photograph sells for $167 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Thomas Couture paintings typically sell for $799–$7,184 (the middle half of 20 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 Thomas Couture painting?

Based on 30 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Thomas Couture painting is $2,906. 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 Thomas Couture's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Thomas Couture painting is $65,225.

### What is the average price of a Thomas Couture work on paper?

Based on 20 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Thomas Couture work on paper is $3,179. 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 Thomas Couture's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Thomas Couture work on paper is $288,550.

### What is the average price of a small Thomas Couture painting?

Based on 20 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Thomas Couture painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,500, 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 the average price of a small Thomas Couture work on paper?

Based on 12 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Thomas Couture work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,523, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Thomas Couture's auction record?

Thomas Couture's auction record is $288,550, set in 2013.

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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, “Thomas Couture auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/thomas-couture (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.