How Much Is Regatta at Molesey near Hampton Court Worth?

Overview: Alfred Sisley’s Les Régates à Molesey (1874) is a documented, museum‑held canvas (Musée d’Orsay, accession RF 2787) recorded at 66 × 91.5 cm and cited in the museum’s catalogue and standard Sisley literature [1]. Because the picture sits in the French national collection via the Gustave Caillebotte bequest, it carries unusually strong provenance and curatorial validation; any market valuation must therefore be framed as a hypothetical auction estimate rather than a prediction of an imminent sale.

Method and comparables: This valuation is driven by a comparable‑analysis approach: I reviewed recent auction outcomes for Sisley river/Thames/regatta views, the artist’s auction ceiling (the 2017 Sotheby’s snow scene) and the uplift normally accorded to museum‑provenanced works [2]. Recent sales of mid‑to‑large Sisley river scenes at major houses (Christie’s, Sotheby’s, Bonhams) through 2022–2025 show realized prices clustered between the mid‑six figures and low‑seven figures, with marquee lots occasionally exceeding that band [3]. Those results establish a realistic transactional envelope for a well‑provenanced, well‑conditioned Sisley of this size and subject.

Why this painting merits a premium: Caillebotte provenance and continuous state/museum custody materially reduce provenance and attribution risk and typically draw institutional and specialist buyer interest. The work’s scale (66 × 91.5 cm) and clear placement in Sisley’s Thames/regatta group further support a value above routine small studies. When comparable museum‑quality Sisleys have come to market with strong exhibition/literature history, they have realized in the mid‑to‑multi‑million dollar band; in an ordinary sale context they trend toward the lower part of that range.

Key uncertainties: The estimate assumes museum‑grade condition consistent with long institutional stewardship; significant structural issues, major restoration or heavy relining would reduce value. Auction context (evening marquee sale vs specialist day sale), pre‑sale marketing, and whether the lot is offered with exhibition loans or catalogue guarantees will also materially influence final price. Because the painting is not currently on the market, the figure below is hypothetical and contingent on these variables.

Final estimate (hypothetical auction): USD $1,500,000–$4,500,000. The lower bound reflects conservative demand and the possibility of sale‑venue or condition discounts; the upper bound anticipates vigorous competitive bidding in a marquee sale with institutional interest and exhibition support. For a formal insured valuation or sale plan, obtain the Musée d’Orsay provenance/exhibition file and a recent condition report and consult an Impressionist specialist at a major auction house before listing.