Is my 1782 Bartolozzi framed etching worth anything? It is The Dance (after HW Bunbury), 10 by 10 inches.?

Question

Trying to determine whether a small framed etching I have is worth anything. Is there any way to find out online relatively cheaply? I just want to know whether I can sell it for $50 or a few hundred. I'm located in Portland, OR. Thanks!

Answer 1

I certainly would think so as his works are in the permanent collections at Princeton, Harvard and the National Portrait Gallery in London, to name just a few. Contact a fine local auction house or Swann Auction (see link below) that specializes in prints. You want to find out if it is, in fact, original or a reproduction of sorts. Francesco Bartolozzi was undoubtedly England's most famous stipple engraver of the late eighteenth century. Studying art under Joseph Wagner in his native Venice, Bartolozzi began his career engraving plates after the Italian masters. BARTOLOZZI, Francesco 1725-1815
Here are a bunch of prices and information for you: http://web.artprice.com/classifieds/fineart/list.aspx?source=artist&sh=0&idartist=MjI1NDk4NzY3MTQ0Njk=http://www.kettererkunst.com/details-e.php?obnr=410606005&anummer=304
http://www.worthing.gov.uk/Leisure/MuseumampArtGallery/Catalogues/B/
http://libweb.princeton.edu/libraries/firestone/rbsc/aids/gc106.html
http://www.artoftheprint.com/artistpages/bartolozzi_francesco_sleepingbaby.htm
http://www.npg.org.uk/live/search/person.asp?LinkID=mp00284&role=art
http://www.swanngalleries.com/contactUs.cgi

Answer 2

Here's couple suggestions- see if a local auction house will give you a estimated price- they may also be able to sell it for you for a good price.

Also, this site supposedly has prices of the artist's previously sold works, but you have to register. Didn't try it myself, but you could....it didn't look like they charge to register.

http://web.artprice.com/ps/artitems.aspx?view=all&idarti=MjI1NDk4NzY3MTQ0Njk=&refGenre=B&page=15

Finally, it seems an etching from 1782 would be worth more than $50...it might really be worth your while to have it checked out rather than sell online...you might have something worth a lot.

Good luck!