The Angelus Print Value Guide

Jean-François Millet's 'The Angelus' is a cornerstone of French Realism, capturing the profound spiritual devotion of two peasants in a potato field. Originally painted between 1857 and 1859, its widespread reproduction in the late 19th and early 20th centuries made it a staple of sentimental art in homes across Europe and America.

What Is The Angelus Print Worth?

The typical price range for The Angelus Print is $70 - $90 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The condition of the paper, specifically the presence of foxing, yellowing, or water damage from age.
• The quality of the frame, with original 19th-century ornate wood frames commanding higher prices.
• The printing method used, as early lithographs or high-quality photogravures are more valuable than modern mass-produced offsets.
• The overall size of the framed piece, with larger, wall-ready displays reaching the $90 range.

How to Identify The Angelus Print?

• Look for the distinct silhouettes of two farm workers bowing their heads over a basket of potatoes at dusk.
• Identify the faint church steeple in the distant background, which signals the ringing of the Angelus bell.
• Check for the artist's signature, 'J.F. Millet', typically located in the lower corner of the print.
• Examine the frame and glass; antique versions often feature period-correct wood frames and thin, wavy glass.

History of The Angelus Print

The Angelus, painted by Jean-François Millet between 1857 and 1859, is an iconic work of French Realism. It portrays two farm workers pausing their labor in a potato field at dusk to recite the Angelus prayer, a Catholic devotion commemorating the Incarnation. The distant church steeple and the basket of potatoes symbolize their humble, spiritual connection to the land. This painting gained immense popularity and was widely reproduced, becoming a sentimental favorite across Europe and America. It is revered for its emotional depth and its portrayal of the dignity of rural life and faith.