SwissArtGallery · Documented identity

Constantin Guys

Born : 1802Died : 1892Documented citizenships : France

The French draughtsman and painter Constantin Guys uses drawing and lithography as means of creating a visual chronicle of his time. The subjects found in his work range from events of war to ceremonies and festivities, without forgetting women, girls and carriages. His career takes him at a very young age towards the events he would depict: having left Marseille in October 1821 to take part in the Greek War of Independence, he survives the disaster of Péta in July 1822, then returns to France in December. He subsequently enlists in the army. From 1840, London becomes his base. In 1854 and 1855, he travels to Crimea and illustrates the war for the British periodical The Illustrated London News.

His preferred technique combines black ink wash and watercolour. According to Baudelaire’s account, he works from memory on several drawings at once, developing them gradually; this method accompanies a practice attentive to the diversity of scenes and subjects. He rarely signs his sheets and asks Baudelaire to refer to him only by the initials “M. G.”

The presence of his sheets in public collections is seen in particular in the acquisition, in 1880, of several hundred drawings by the Musée Carnavalet, directly from the artist, for three hundred francs. Other works held in museums attest to the variety of subjects and techniques: Promenade en carrosse, c. 1863, combines pen, ink and watercolour on beige paper and is held by the Cantonal Art Museum of Lugano; Le Chahut, in ink and wash, belongs to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, while the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore holds Au foyer du théâtre, also executed in ink and wash. In 2002, the Musée de la vie romantique in Paris devoted an exhibition entitled “Fleurs du mal” to him.

This profile brings together identity references for Constantin Guys and paintings, drawings and works on paper documented in auction catalogues.

Documented auction references

17auction references

6auction houses

9documented results with prices

Genève Enchères · DognyAuction · Schuler · Piguet · Lempertz · Zofingen

References include catalogue entries and available results; they do not all represent completed sales. Attributed works and special lots are excluded from the priced results.

Works recorded at auction

Photograph : Schuler · Enlarge image ↗

Schuler · Lot 3087

Zouaven beim Kartenspielen

Feder in Braun und Aquarell auf Papier

Catalogue period : 2026-09-11

Published result : 900 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

Estimate : CHF 500–700

Constantin Guys

Documented auction references

Works recorded at auction

Zouaven beim Kartenspielen

Portrait of a woman

Brothel

La Terrasse

Femme au voile

Rencontre à la promenade

Napoléon III à cheval

Constantin GUYS (1802-1892) Deux aquarelles et encre sur papier

La rue,

Cavaliers et attelages

Groupe de personnages

Rencontre à la promenade

References excluded from statistics: attributions and special lots

Attribué à Constantin Guys — Scène de vie mondaine

Attribué à Constantin Guys — Promenade en calèche

Constantin GUYS (1802/05-1892), 'Cavaliers', encre et lavy

Attribué à Constantin Guys — Calèches

Attribué à Constantin Guys — Lavis d'encre

Sources and references

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