> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/cecil-beaton · updated 2026-11-02

# Cecil Beaton (1904–1980)

## What is Cecil Beaton’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 660 auction results for Cecil Beaton at 59 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,022 including buyer’s premium (middle half $410–$2,099, n=160). The auction record is $125,703 for Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle (2017, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle, 1963 | Gelatin silver print | $125,703 | Christie's | Sep 2017 |
| 2 | Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle, 1963 | Two gelatin silver prints | $117,323 | Christie's | Sep 2017 |
| 3 | Ascot Gavotte; set and costume design for 'My Fair Lady' | Pencil and watercolour heightened with white, on buff paper | $50,430 | Christie's | Nov 2007 |
| 4 | Francis Bacon in his studio, 1960 | Gelatin silver print with paint from Francis Bacon's studio on the recto and verso | $45,689 | Phillips | May 2016 |
| 5 | Iconic photographs | Silver gelatin prints | $38,750 | Christie's | Sep 2017 |
| 6 | Iconic Women, 1977-1981 | Silver gelatin-prints | $32,500 | Christie's | Sep 2017 |
| 7 | Audrey Hepburn, March 1954, 1954 | Gelatin silver print, mounted on board | $21,789 | Christie's | Sep 2017 |
| 8 | Portrait of a Young Boy (Nicholas Pascoe Grenfell), 1958 | Oil on canvas | $21,756 | James Adam Salesrooms | Nov 2021 |
| 9 | An extensive archive of sketchbooks, drawings, photographs and several watercolor paintings, some of which variously signed ("Beaton", "C Beaton" and "CB"), ca 1950-1978 | Sketchbooks, drawings, photographs and several watercolor paintings; ink and watercolor drawings, ink, photographs, silver gelatin prints | $21,250 | Christie's | Sep 2017 |
| 10 | Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle, 1963 | Gelatin silver print | $20,113 | Christie's | Sep 2017 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 10 | $3,333 |
| Photographs | 294 | $1,542 |
| Works on paper | 149 | $1,410 |
| Prints | 6 | $1,312 |
| Other | 57 | $1,020 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 62 | $2,513 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 400 | $1,593 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 660 results from 59 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Cecil Beaton is a British (modern) artist with 815 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $1,362. 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 Cecil Beaton sold in 2026 for $2,540, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**2 Cecil Beaton works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Cecil Beaton on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/cecil-beaton?ref=kg:cecil-beaton) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Cecil Beaton work worth?

Across 631 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Cecil Beaton work is $1,362.

The median Cecil Beaton photograph sells for $1,296 across 361 lots.

The median Cecil Beaton work on paper sells for $1,438 across 120 lots.

The median Cecil Beaton painting sells for $1,362 across 67 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Cecil Beaton photographs typically sell for $532–$3,194 (the middle half of 307 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Cecil Beaton work on papers typically sell for $721–$2,183 (the middle half of 92 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 | 28 | $478†‡ | $32,500 | 89.3% | 2026-10-15 |
| Paintings | 70 | $1,362‡ | $21,756 | 95.7% | 2025-06-03 |
| Works on Paper | 137 | $1,438†‡ | $15,136‡ | 87.6% | 2026-06-02 |
| Photography | 424 | $1,296†‡ | $125,703 | 85.1% | 2026-10-15 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 33 | $18,436†‡ | $125,703 | — | 2022-12-15 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Cecil Beaton's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (28 lots) median $478 with 89.3% sell-through. Paintings (70 lots) median $1,362, record $21,756. A typical Cecil Beaton painting sells for around 2.8× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 33 lots) the median is $18,436.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 13 | $444–$3,147†‡ | $478†‡ | $32,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $281–$956 | $589 | $4,560 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 46 | $1,070–$2,894 | $1,362 | $10,215 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 21 | $947–$3,900‡ | $2,217‡ | $21,756 |

‡ 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) | 92 | $721–$2,183†‡ | $1,388†‡ | $8,774 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 26 | $1,088–$4,336†‡ | $2,387†‡ | $15,136‡ |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 307 | $532–$3,194†‡ | $1,430†‡ | $125,703 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 16 | $468–$6,121‡ | $1,846‡ | $8,750 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2017 | $125,703 |
| Photography | 2017 | $117,323 |
| Prints & Editions | 2017 | $32,500 |
| Paintings | 2021 | $21,756 |
| Prints & Editions | 2017 | $20,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $15,136‡ |
| Paintings | 2025 | $10,215 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $8,774 |

‡ 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 Cecil Beaton worth?

Across 631 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Cecil Beaton work is $1,362. The median Cecil Beaton photograph sells for $1,296 across 361 lots. The median Cecil Beaton work on paper sells for $1,438 across 120 lots. The median Cecil Beaton painting sells for $1,362 across 67 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Cecil Beaton photographs typically sell for $532–$3,194 (the middle half of 307 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Cecil Beaton work on papers typically sell for $721–$2,183 (the middle half of 92 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 Cecil Beaton photograph?

Based on 361 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Cecil Beaton photograph is $1,296. 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 Cecil Beaton's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Cecil Beaton photograph is $125,703.

### What is the average price of a Cecil Beaton work on paper?

Based on 120 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Cecil Beaton work on paper is $1,438. 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 Cecil Beaton's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Cecil Beaton work on paper is $15,136. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### What is the average price of a Cecil Beaton painting?

Based on 67 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Cecil Beaton painting is $1,362. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Cecil Beaton's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Cecil Beaton painting is $21,756.

### What is the average price of a small Cecil Beaton photograph?

Based on 307 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Cecil Beaton photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,430, 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 the average price of a small Cecil Beaton work on paper?

Based on 92 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Cecil Beaton work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,388, 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 Cecil Beaton's auction record?

Cecil Beaton's auction record is $125,703, set in 2017.

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Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Cecil Beaton auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/cecil-beaton (updated 2026-11-02).

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.