Original Paintings for Sale in Paris: Price Guide
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Paris · Île Saint-Louis · Original Art
Original Paintings for Sale in Paris: Price Guide
What does original art actually cost in Paris? Where do you find it, and how do you buy with confidence? A transparent guide from the artists themselves.
What "Original" Actually Means
The word gets used loosely. In Paris tourist zones, you'll find "original art" that means hand-signed prints, or "unique" pieces that were produced in editions. None of this is necessarily dishonest, but it's not what most people mean when they imagine buying original art in Paris.
An original painting is a one-of-a-kind work, made by hand by a specific artist. There is no edition, no reproduction, no second copy. The work you buy is the only one that exists. When the artist signs it, they're signing the actual piece they made, not a copy of it.
Every work at La Chocolaterie Art Gallery is a hand-made original. No prints, no reproductions, no editions. If you buy something here, you own the only version that exists.
Original vs. print: the practical difference
Both can be beautiful. Prints are reproductions of original work, usually produced in numbered editions. They're typically less expensive and more accessible. But they don't have the same relationship to the artist's hand that an original does.
When you buy an original, you're acquiring the actual object the artist worked on with all the texture, decisions, corrections, and intention that involved. That physical and historical connection is what makes originals different, and what makes them worth more.
Certificates and provenance
A serious gallery provides documentation with original works. At La Chocolaterie, every purchase comes with a certificate of authenticity identifying the work, the artist, the medium, and the date. This matters for insurance, future sale, and simply for your own records.
What Original Paintings Cost in Paris
Prices in the Paris art market vary enormously from a few dozen dollars to millions. The relevant range for most visitors buying original contemporary art from living artists is much narrower. Here's what you can expect at La Chocolaterie.
Dino
From $40
Small originals and works on paper. The most accessible entry point for first-time collectors. Larger Dino paintings start from $800.
Marcelo De Leon
$880 – $4,840
Acrylic paintings, primarily large-format. Paris scenes and color-led urban work.
How prices are set
Prices at La Chocolaterie reflect the artist's time, materials, and market — not gallery markup on top of gallery markup. As a gallery run by working artists, the pricing is direct and transparent. There's no inflated list price with a discount waiting for the right buyer.
All prices are in USD and visible on every work. No "price on request," no negotiation rituals.
What affects price within an artist's range
Format is the primary driver. A small work on paper will cost significantly less than a large canvas, even from the same artist. Series and subject matter also play a role — some subjects are simply more in demand, and pricing reflects that.
What you won't pay
As a tax-exempt artist studio, La Chocolaterie doesn't charge VAT. The price you see is the final price, with 100% going directly to the artists. No VAT to manage, no refund process required.
The Artists and Their Work
Understanding who made a piece — and why — changes how you experience it. These are the artists whose work you'll find at La Chocolaterie.
Dino
Figurative · Cats · Paris scenes
Dino's Paris cats have a following. His work is warm, precise, and quietly funny, cats in domestic settings, cats watching the city, cats with something to say. Small originals start at $40, making his work the most accessible at the gallery and an ideal first purchase for new collectors.
Originals from $40
Marcelo De Leon
Acrylic · Color & light · Urban
Marcelo's work is about light, the quality of it in the city, the way it changes everything. His Paris scenes are layered in acrylic, built up through color rather than line. The effect is paintings that seem to glow from within.
$600 – $5,000
How to Buy Without Regret
Buying art for the first time, or buying in a city you're visiting, comes with legitimate anxieties. Here's how to navigate them.
Buy what you actually like
The oldest advice, still the best. Art markets are unpredictable, and most purchases at this price level aren't primarily investments. What you'll live with for years should be something that gives you genuine pleasure. Buy for yourself first.
Ask questions
The gallery is run by the artists. Ask about the work, the process, the choice of subject. You'll get direct, honest answers rather than rehearsed sales copy. These conversations often make the piece more valuable to you, regardless of price.
First-time buyer tip
If you're uncertain about a larger purchase, start with something smaller — a Dino original from $40 gives you a genuine entry into collecting without financial anxiety. Many collectors at La Chocolaterie started this way and returned for larger works later.
Don't confuse "gallery price" with "auction price"
Gallery prices for contemporary work from living artists are primary market prices. These are set by the artist and gallery, not by auction records. Comparing gallery prices to auction prices for established names is not a meaningful comparison. Work from emerging and mid-career artists is typically underpriced relative to its eventual value.
Understand what you're getting
At La Chocolaterie, every purchase comes with a certificate of authenticity. The work is fully documented. The price includes packaging, and the gallery handles all shipping logistics. There's no VAT to recover. What you see is what you pay.
Trust your instinct, not the investment thesis
You don't need a theory about appreciation potential to buy a painting you love. Most people who buy original art at gallery prices are buying for pleasure and meaning, not return. The best buyers of contemporary art are people who engage with the work on its own terms — and that almost always makes them better collectors in the long run anyway.
Getting the Work Home
Shipping original art internationally is standard practice for galleries and something La Chocolaterie handles every week.
Small works: carry-on and checked luggage
Works on paper and small canvases are easy to travel with. The gallery packs them properly flat works in protective sleeves and rigid packaging, small canvases wrapped and boxed. Most visitors traveling with one or two small works have no issues with airline security or customs.
Larger paintings: professional shipping
For anything too large for luggage, the gallery ships professionally. Works typically reach New York or Los Angeles in 5 to 10 business days via express courier, or 2 to 6 weeks via dedicated fine art freight. The gallery handles all French export documentation and packaging.
Customs: the good news for US buyers
Original paintings imported to the United States are duty-free under HTS code 9701. There's no import duty on original art just the purchase price. This makes buying original paintings in Paris particularly straightforward for American buyers.
No VAT complications
As a tax-exempt artist studio and gallery, La Chocolaterie doesn't charge VAT. There's no tax to reclaim, no détaxe paperwork to complete. The price is the price.
| Destination | Method | Typical transit |
|---|---|---|
| USA (East Coast) | Express courier | 5–7 business days |
| USA (West Coast) | Express courier | 7–10 business days |
| UK / Europe | Express courier | 3–5 business days |
| Australia / Asia | Express courier | 7–12 business days |
| Any destination | Fine art freight | 2–6 weeks |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all the works at La Chocolaterie originals?
Yes. Every work in the gallery is a hand-made original. No prints, no reproductions, no editions. If it's in the gallery, it's the only version that exists.
What's the cheapest original painting available?
Dino originals start from $40. These are small works on paper — real originals, signed, with a certificate of authenticity. They're our most accessible entry point for first-time collectors.
Do you charge VAT?
No. As a tax-exempt artist studio, we don't charge VAT. The price you see is the final price. 100% goes directly to the artists.
Can I ship a painting to the United States?
Yes, and it's simpler than you might expect. We handle all packaging and export documentation. Original paintings are duty-free when imported to the US under HTS code 9701.
How do I know the work is authentic?
Every purchase comes with a signed certificate of authenticity documenting the work, the artist, the medium, and the date. The gallery is run by the artists themselves, there's no intermediary between you and the maker of the work.
Where is the gallery?
64 rue Saint-Louis en l'Île, Paris 75004 — on Île Saint-Louis, a 5-minute walk from Notre-Dame. Open every day, 10:00–20:00. Free entry, no reservation required.
See the Work in Person
Prices are visible on every work. No pressure, no reservation needed. Just come and look — that's how it starts for most collectors.
Visit La Chocolaterie →Last updated: March 2026 · 64 rue Saint-Louis en l'Île, Paris 75004 · Open daily 10:00–20:00 · Free entry