> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/ernesto-fontana · updated 2026-11-01

# Ernesto Fontana (1837–1918)

Ernesto Fontana is an Italian artist with 21 auction lots recorded since 1997, median price $2,918. 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 Ernesto Fontana sold in 2026 for $6,250, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Ernesto Fontana work worth?

Across 12 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ernesto Fontana work is $2,918.

The median Ernesto Fontana painting sells for $2,940 across 9 lots.

The median Ernesto Fontana work on paper sells for $1,256 across 2 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 | 11 | $2,940† | $5,056 | 81.8% | 2022-05-06 |
| Works on Paper | 3 | $1,256 | $1,446 | 66.7% | 2020-09-15 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $2,918–$3,099† | $2,940† | $3,855† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2004 | $5,056 |
| Paintings | 1997 | $4,648 |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $1,446 |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $1,066 |

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 Ernesto Fontana worth?

Across 12 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ernesto Fontana work is $2,918. The median Ernesto Fontana painting sells for $2,940 across 9 lots. The median Ernesto Fontana work on paper sells for $1,256 across 2 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 Ernesto Fontana painting?

Based on 9 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ernesto Fontana painting is $2,940. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Ernesto Fontana's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Ernesto Fontana painting is $5,056.

### What is Ernesto Fontana's auction record?

Ernesto Fontana's auction record is $5,056, set in 2004.

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Data last updated 2026-11-01. OpeningBid tracks 15,222,099 auction lots from 571 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Ernesto Fontana auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/ernesto-fontana (updated 2026-11-01).

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.