How Much Is an Oil Painting Worth?

Oil painting value is almost entirely a function of who painted it, and everything else is a modifier. An unsigned decorative landscape of good quality sells for one hundred to four hundred dollars regardless of how attractive it is, while the same canvas signed by a listed artist with auction history could be worth thousands. The first step in any valuation is therefore reading the signature and researching whether the artist is listed, meaning they have documented auction results. Databases of auction records make this checkable, and a listed artist's past results establish a price range directly. Beyond attribution, subject matter drives demand within an artist's work, with certain themes consistently outselling others. Size affects price but not linearly, since very large paintings are hard to hang and can sell at a discount. Condition covers canvas tears, flaking paint, overcleaning, and past restoration, all of which are assessed under raking light and ultraviolet.

Attribution dominates, and the difference between an unsigned work and one by a listed artist with auction history is the entire valuation. Auction record depth matters, since an artist with many documented sales has an established price range while one with a single result does not. Subject matter creates spreads within any artist's output, and the themes a market favors are specific to each artist. Period and school affect demand, with certain movements currently more sought than others. Size influences price but very large works can be harder to sell. Condition is assessed for canvas damage, paint loss, craquelure, past relining, and overpaint, with ultraviolet examination revealing restoration invisible in normal light. Provenance and exhibition history add real value at the upper end. Finally, the frame is valued separately and a quality period frame can be worth more than a modest painting inside it.