Francis Bacon (1909–1992)
Francis Bacon is an Irish artist with 236 auction lots recorded since 1994, median price $6,133. 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 Francis Bacon sold in 2026 for $32,309, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Francis Bacon record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Francis Bacon on OpeningBid →What is a Francis Bacon work worth?
Across 195 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Francis Bacon work is $6,133.
The median Francis Bacon print sells for $7,036 across 158 lots.
The median Francis Bacon photograph sells for $2,223 across 9 lots.
The median Francis Bacon painting sells for $30,394 across 8 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Francis Bacon prints typically sell for $4,857–$15,540 (the middle half of 86 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Francis Bacon prints typically sell for $1,150–$16,417 (the middle half of 55 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 | 183 | $7,036†‡ | $125,020† | 86.3% | 2026-07-31 |
| Paintings | 8 | $30,394‡ | $84.5M | — | 2026-07-15 |
| Works on Paper | 3 | $2,738‡ | $80,970 | — | 2024-03-21 |
| Photography | 9 | $2,223‡ | $23,156 | — | 2026-04-23 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 11 | $89,246† | $84.5M | — | 2025-12-17 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Francis Bacon's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (183 lots) median $7,036 with 86.3% sell-through. Paintings (8 lots) median $30,394, record $84,550,000. A typical Francis Bacon painting sells for around 4.3× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 11 lots) the median is $89,246.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 55 | $1,150–$16,417†‡ | $4,400†‡ | $60,127 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 86 | $4,857–$15,540†‡ | $8,797†‡ | $125,020† |
| large (over 120 cm) | 6 | $5,322–$27,997 | $8,194 | $89,246 |
† 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) | 7 | $196–$11,948‡ | $2,223‡ | $23,156 |
‡ 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 | 2020 | $84.5M |
| Paintings | 2016 | $8.8M |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $125,020† |
| Prints & Editions | 2013 | $108,431 |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $80,970 |
| Photography | 2010 | $23,156 |
| Photography | 2009 | $20,423 |
| Works on Paper | 2013 | $2,738‡ |
† 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. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Francis Bacon worth?
Across 195 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Francis Bacon work is $6,133. The median Francis Bacon print sells for $7,036 across 158 lots. The median Francis Bacon photograph sells for $2,223 across 9 lots. The median Francis Bacon painting sells for $30,394 across 8 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Francis Bacon prints typically sell for $4,857–$15,540 (the middle half of 86 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Francis Bacon prints typically sell for $1,150–$16,417 (the middle half of 55 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 Francis Bacon print?
Based on 158 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Francis Bacon print is $7,036. 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 Francis Bacon's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Francis Bacon print is $125,020. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $125,020 (buyer's premium not included).
What is the average price of a medium Francis Bacon print?
Based on 86 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Francis Bacon print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $8,797, 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 Francis Bacon print?
Based on 55 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Francis Bacon print (small (under 50 cm)) is $4,400, 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 Francis Bacon's auction record?
Francis Bacon's auction record is $84,550,000, set in 2020.
See the full Francis Bacon record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Francis Bacon on OpeningBid →