Andre Renault Paintings

[KevinB]

I believe these streetscapes are oil on canvas/board. It looks like they were painted with a putty knife. Only one of them is signed by the artist Andre Renault. The signed painting is of the Moulin Rouge in Paris. Both paintings measure 20"x16" and are framed the same. I couldn't find much on the artist just a few past auction results on similair paintings by the same artist. I think one sold in Germany for somewhere around $900 and another sold at Christie's London in 2005 for around $1500 dollars. I know subject is important when it comes to painting value. So would it be safe to assume that the Moulin Rouge would be worth more? I would like to sell these paintings but I'm not sure what would be the best way to sell. Selling them at auction sounds exciting but its scarey to think someone could end up getting them for way under their value. Selling them outright might be the way to go but I'm not really sure what would be a fair price. Any suggestions or personal experience?

[mart]

Not a putty knife !!!  Pallet knife is the term !!  Its a widely used tool to create texture on the surface !!  I use it mostly for mountains or rocks & trees but many artists paint the entire scene with a pallet knife !!  I just like the combination of soft and hard myself !!  Haven`t looked up your artist but if that is what his auction/sales show then yours would fall into the same catagory !!  Subject matter is of importance to the buyer and will not make a huge difference in money on an outright sale !!  Especially if the artist is not widely collected !!  And from those sale figures it sounds like he is not !!  Have  you checked ebay to see if there are any of his paintings there ??  If so, see if anyone is bidding on them !!  Sometimes lesser known artists just do not sell at all !! Especially in this economy !!