Victor GILBERT

Do you have a piece by Victor Gilbert in your possession and would like to know its value? Our Experts will carry out a free appraisal of your piece, provide you with an estimate of the market price, and then help you to sell at the best possible price.

Quote, price and estimation of the artist Victor Gilbert

Price of a painting signed Gilbert at auction: 300 – 50,000 €

Estimation of a drawing or a watercolour: 700 – 10,000€.

If you would like to have a Victor Gilbert painting appraised, our painting experts are at your disposal for a free appraisal.

Official recognition

Victor Gabriel Gilbert is a French painter who lived in Paris all his life, from birth in 1847 until death in 1933. Victor Gilbert did not undertake any strictly academic artistic training, as coming from a modest family, he was destined to become a carpenter. However, from the age of thirteen he became an apprentice to painter and decorator Eugène Adam. Self-taught, he was admitted to the 1873 and 1874 Salons in Paris, where he received recognition from critics and the public alike.

He first exhibited still lifes before receiving awards for genre scenes at the 1880 Salon. His pictorial identity began to emerge in 1880, and at the 1881 Salon he established his reputation as a genre painter by presenting paintings of Les Halles de Paris. In 1889, the Universal Exhibition was held in Paris, where he was awarded a silver medal for his genre paintings. Almost ten years later he was made a Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, and in 1926 he was awarded the Bonnat prize.

The painter of the “Belle époque”

From the end of the Second Empire to the beginning of the First World War, France lived through a period referred to as the “belle époque” by nostalgic people. It was indeed a twenty-year period, marked by the social and economic progress brought about by the industrial revolution, which put an end to a long period of depression. This prosperous climate, conducive to the development of frivolous and exuberant lifestyles, influenced the various artistic circles.

Victor Gilbert was part of a wave of artists of this “belle époque” along with Jean Béraud, Giovanni Boldini, and Jacques Émile Blanche. They favoured creations in primary colours, oil or pastel and worked on paper both in sculpture and furniture. Victor Gilbert led a rather mundane existence, and being introduced to the festivities of the time he was able to immortalise the world that preceded WWI.

The painter of Les Halles

Victor Gilbert was initially influenced by the Impressionist movement, in particular because of his benefactor and art dealer who was an important protagonist of the movement. Indeed, his compositions are reminiscent of the Impressionists, particularly the works of Renoir. From the beginning of the 1880s, he depicted Paris, with its perspectives and teeming life, through realistic canvases influenced by naturalism. He was particularly fond of genre painting, depicting street scenes, cafés and markets. He accounted for the modernisation of the city in public space while at the same time translating the soul of Paris and its inhabitants.

Recognising Gilbert’s signature

Like many artists, Victor Gilbert did not sign all of his works. However, you will find below an example of the signatures to give you an idea. Variations of these signatures do exist, do not hesitate to contact one of our experts to formally authenticate a signature.

Appraising and selling a piece by Victor Gilbert

If you own a piece by Victor Gilbert or any other object, ask for a free estimate via our online form.

You will then be contacted by a member of our team of experts and auctioneers to give you an independent view of the market price of your piece. In the context of a possible sale, our specialists will also advise you on the different options available to sell your work at the best price.