Henryk Siemiradzki Appraisals

Henryk Siemiradzki: Overview

Henryk Hektor Siemiradzki (1843–1902) was a Polish painter who spent most of his active creative life in Rome. He is best known for his monumental academic art and his depictions of scenes from the ancient Greco-Roman world and the New Testament. Originally trained as a scientist, he abandoned a degree in natural sciences to enroll at the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg, where he quickly distinguished himself and earned a gold medal upon graduation in 1870.  He subsequently studied in Munich before settling permanently in Rome in 1872, where he built a studio and established his international reputation. His works are owned by national galleries across Europe, and his best-known works include monumental curtains for the Lviv Theatre of Opera and the Juliusz Słowacki Theatre in Kraków.

Value Influencing Factors

Value in Siemiradzki’s work is driven primarily by medium, scale, and subject. Large allegorical oil paintings on canvas are his most celebrated and ambitious works, and command the strongest prices. 

Subject matter plays an important role. His signature compositions including sunlit Greco-Roman scenes, allegorical figures, and early Christian narratives, rendered with academic precision and luminist qualities, represent the top of his market. Landscapes and portraits, while collectible, generally attract less demand than his monumental figurative works. Condition, overall aesthetic, and provenance, are also important factors. Connecting a piece to notable collections or exhibitions can also add to the value.

The Siemiradzki Market

Siemiradzki’s auction market is somewhat limited, with approximately 142 auction records over the last 30 years. This makes comparable selection more challenging and underscores the importance of working with an appraiser familiar with his work and market. His strongest results have come from major auction houses, and results from lesser houses should be treated with caution, as misattribution and anomalous sales, which may or may not be true sales, can skew market analysis. Large allegorical oils have sold publicly for as much as $2,000,000, while small to medium oils of less expansive scenes tend to bring in the $20,000 – $40,000 range, and  small sketches tend to sell for a few thousand or a bit more. 

Appraising Your Siemiradzki

A USPAP-compliant appraisal by the Expert Appraisal Company ensures your Henryk Siemiradzki work is accurately and defensibly valued for estate tax, charitable donation, insurance coverage, or damage claims.