> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/benjamin-west · updated 2026-11-03

# Benjamin West (1738–1820)

## What is Benjamin West’s work worth? {#value}

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 92 auction results for Benjamin West at 22 houses since 1995. Over the last 24 months the median price was $3,192 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,718–$10,160, n=9). The auction record is $532,086 for Design for the ceiling decoration of the Royal Chapel, Windsor Castle, with The Last Judgement, centre, the Evangelists Matthew and Mark, above, and the Evangelists Luke and John, below (recto); Designs for the ceiling decoration of the Royal Academy Council Chamber at Somerset House, showing The Graces unveiling Nature, surrounded with Allegories of the Four Elements (verso) (2007, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

**Top auction records: paintings, drawings & sculpture**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Design for the ceiling decoration of the Royal Chapel, Windsor Castle, with The Last Judgement, centre, the Evangelists Matthew and Mark, above, and the Evangelists Luke and John, below (recto); Designs for the ceiling decoration of the Royal Academy Council Chamber at Somerset House, showing The Graces unveiling Nature, surrounded with Allegories of the Four Elements (verso), 1738 | Ink | $532,086 | Christie's | Nov 2007 |
| 2 | Thetis bringing the armour to Achilles, 1804 | Oil on canvas | $451,488 | Sotheby's | Jul 2023 |
| 3 | Portrait of Prince William, later King William IV of Great Britain (1765–1837), when a midshipman, in naval uniform standing on the deck of HMS Prince George, 1779 | Oil on canvas | $418,444 | Sotheby's | Jul 2021 |
| 4 | The Recovery of His Majesty in the Year 1789, 1530 | Oil paint | $266,098 | Sotheby's | Dec 2021 |
| 5 | The Death of General Wolfe | Oil paint | $100,000 | Christie's | Jan 2020 |
| 6 | Mrs. William Abercromby, half-length, seated, in a white gown with a blue and gold sash, 1738 | Oil on canvas | $94,500 | Christie's | May 2023 |
| 7 | Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven, 1738 | Oil paint | $87,500 | Christie's | Apr 2018 |
| 8 | Portrait of Mrs. William Abercromby, 1738 | Oil paint | $81,250 | Christie's | Oct 2019 |
| 9 | Sir William and Lady Young with their youngest child beside a draped column, 1820 | Portrait | $54,307 | Bonhams | Dec 2025 |
| 10 | Portrait of Lady Anne Somerset, Countess of Northampton, and her Daughter, Lady Elizabeth Compton, 1769 | Portrait | $40,640 | Sotheby's | Feb 2026 |


**Median price by medium (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 21 | $14,839 |
| Works on paper | 33 | $3,360 |
| Other | 15 | $3,000 |

**Median price by size (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 7 | $40,640 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 21 | $9,097 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 41 | $3,192 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 92 results from 22 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Benjamin West is an American artist with 110 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $4,764. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.

A work by Benjamin West sold in 2026 for $40,640, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Benjamin West work worth?

Across 88 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Benjamin West work is $4,764.

The median Benjamin West work on paper sells for $3,250 across 49 lots.

The median Benjamin West painting sells for $8,040 across 27 lots.

The median Benjamin West print sells for $1,130 across 8 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Benjamin West work on papers typically sell for $1,722–$5,516 (the middle half of 38 sold lots).

Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

## Price breakdown by category

| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 9 | $1,130†‡ | $123,462‡ | 88.9% | 2025-07-01 |
| Paintings | 32 | $8,040†‡ | $451,488 | 84.4% | 2026-04-17 |
| Works on Paper | 56 | $3,250†‡ | $532,086 | 87.5% | 2025-09-25 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 7 | $266,098‡ | $532,086 | — | 2023-07-05 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

Benjamin West's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (9 lots) median $1,130 with 88.9% sell-through. Paintings (32 lots) median $8,040, record $451,488. A typical Benjamin West painting sells for around 7.1× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 7 lots) the median is $266,098.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $503–$110,907†‡ | $720†‡ | $123,462‡ |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 18 | $2,972–$69,688†‡ | $8,040†‡ | $451,488 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $7,146–$87,500† | $7,444† | $100,000 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 38 | $1,722–$5,516‡ | $2,959‡ | $33,516 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $4,476–$7,224† | $6,031† | $532,086 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2007 | $532,086 |
| Paintings | 2023 | $451,488 |
| Paintings | 2021 | $418,444 |
| Prints & Editions | 2014 | $123,462‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2014 | $110,907‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2007 | $33,516 |

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

The highest recorded result in each medium. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is a Benjamin West worth?

Across 88 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Benjamin West work is $4,764. The median Benjamin West work on paper sells for $3,250 across 49 lots. The median Benjamin West painting sells for $8,040 across 27 lots. The median Benjamin West print sells for $1,130 across 8 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Benjamin West work on papers typically sell for $1,722–$5,516 (the middle half of 38 sold lots). Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is the average price of a Benjamin West work on paper?

Based on 49 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Benjamin West work on paper is $3,250. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is Benjamin West's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Benjamin West work on paper is $532,086.

### What is the average price of a Benjamin West painting?

Based on 27 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Benjamin West painting is $8,040. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is Benjamin West's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Benjamin West painting is $451,488.

### What is the average price of a small Benjamin West work on paper?

Based on 38 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Benjamin West work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,959, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is the average price of a medium Benjamin West painting?

Based on 18 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Benjamin West painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $8,040, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is Benjamin West's auction record?

Benjamin West's auction record is $532,086, set in 2007.

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Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Benjamin West auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/benjamin-west (updated 2026-11-03).

Historical auction data, not investment advice. Prices are premium-inclusive USD where the buyer's premium is recorded. Figures marked † are hammer prices (buyer's premium not included); ‡ marks a price whose basis is not yet verified. Non-USD results are converted at the sale month's rate.