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

# Emil Rau (1858–1937)

## What is Emil Rau’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 72 auction results for Emil Rau at 13 houses since 1993. Over the last 24 months the median price was $5,610 including buyer’s premium (middle half $698–$5,827, n=5). The auction record is $34,269 for A Conversation at Home, oil on canvas (2021, Dorotheum). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Conversation at Home, oil on canvas | Oil on canvas | $34,269 | Dorotheum | Jun 2021 |
| 2 | A meal in the mountains, oil on canvas | Oil on canvas | $17,812 | Dorotheum | May 2023 |
| 3 | A Good Tale, oil on canvas, 1858 | Oil on canvas | $16,914 | Dorotheum | Feb 2018 |
| 4 | A Visit to the Dairymaid, oil on canvas | Oil on canvas | $15,970 | Dorotheum | Feb 2022 |
| 5 | A Meal in an Alpine Hut, oil on canvas | Oil on canvas | $12,995 | Dorotheum | Nov 2022 |
| 6 | Inside a Bavarian Tavern | — | $12,500 | Sotheby's | Jan 2008 |
| 7 | A group on an Alpine pasture with a guitar player, oil on canvas | Oil on canvas | $11,080 | Dorotheum | Oct 2026 |
| 8 | Family time, 1858 | Oil paint | $10,307 | Christie's | Jan 2008 |
| 9 | The Zither Player, oil on canvas | Oil on canvas | $10,067 | Dorotheum | May 2023 |
| 10 | An encounter, oil on canvas, 1858 | Oil on canvas | $9,253 | Dorotheum | Jun 2023 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 30 | $4,947 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 6 | $8,583 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 16 | $5,333 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $1,537 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 72 results from 13 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Emil Rau is a German artist with 204 auction lots recorded since 1990, median price $5,827. 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 Emil Rau sold in 2026 for $5,827, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

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

- [Emil Rau on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/emil-rau?ref=kg:emil-rau) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Emil Rau work worth?

Across 71 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Emil Rau work is $5,827.

The median Emil Rau painting sells for $4,947 across 26 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 39 | $4,947†‡ | $34,000† | 66.7% | 2026-10-22 |
| Works on Paper | 1 | — | — | 0% | — |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 4 | $33,539†‡ | $34,269 | — | 2021-06-07 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 18 | $2,381–$7,718‡ | $4,947‡ | $14,000‡ |
| large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $5,610–$9,056†‡ | $6,648†‡ | $34,000† |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 1996 | $34,000† |
| Paintings | 1994 | $14,000‡ |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ 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 Emil Rau worth?

Across 71 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Emil Rau work is $5,827. The median Emil Rau painting sells for $4,947 across 26 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 Emil Rau painting?

Based on 26 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Emil Rau painting is $4,947. 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 Emil Rau's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Emil Rau painting is $34,000. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $34,000 (buyer's premium not included).

### What is the average price of a medium Emil Rau painting?

Based on 18 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Emil Rau painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $4,947, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Emil Rau's auction record?

Emil Rau's auction record is $34,269, set in 2021.

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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, “Emil Rau auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/emil-rau (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.