How Much Is The Last Meeting between Jacopo Foscari and his Family Before Being Sent into Exile (I due Foscari) Worth?

Hayez’s treatment of the Foscari subject is a substantive entry in his historical‑dramatic output. Multiple autograph treatments are recorded and two important canvases are held in major Italian public collections, which elevates the composition’s pedigree and market interest. A version with documented imperial or museum provenance (early commission or exhibition history) would be regarded as a major work within Hayez’s oeuvre and command significantly higher prices. The subject’s presence in monographs and exhibition catalogues also increases scholarly and institutional interest, making art‑historical significance a major positive for valuation when proven.

Whether the work is autograph Hayez, a studio variant, or a later copy is the single most important determinant of value. Autograph status is established by consistent brushwork, paint handling, documented signatures/dates, and technical imaging (IR/X‑ray). A confirmed autograph will place a work in the mid‑to‑upper band of the estimate; a studio or follower work can reduce value by an order of magnitude. Expert attribution (scholar opinion or catalogue raisonné inclusion) materially increases buyer confidence and marketability at top houses.

A continuous, well‑documented provenance — especially links to imperial, museum or notable private collections, and inclusion in exhibition catalogues or scholarly literature — drives value toward the high end of the range. Conversely, gaps in ownership history or untraceable provenance suppress estimates. Exhibition history and literature citations function as liquidity multipliers: works published and exhibited are more attractive to institutions and international buyers and usually realize higher prices at auction or in private sales.

Condition issues (heavy retouching, relining, tears, significant losses, or aggressive overpainting) reduce market value and hamper sales at major houses. Cosmetic issues such as yellowed varnish or minor craquelure are generally manageable; structural issues or extensive restoration can halve realizations versus pristine examples. A recent, documented conservation treatment that stabilizes the work and respects original paint will help recover value; an authoritative condition report is essential before sale and frequently requested by bidders.

Hayez’s market is characterised by scarcity of fresh, museum‑quality canvases and a bifurcated pricing structure: routine works and drawings trade modestly, while rare, fresh high‑quality oils attract institutional and specialist bidding. Recent headline sales demonstrate willingness to pay near the $1.8–1.9M level for top Hayez oils, but such opportunities are infrequent. Demand is strongest when a lot is fresh to market, well‑provenanced and placed in a major evening sale; otherwise supply outstrips buyer enthusiasm at lower price tiers.