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

# Francis Bacon

## What is Francis Bacon’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 1,072 auction results for Francis Bacon at 83 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $9,030 including buyer’s premium (middle half $6,000–$15,430, n=126). The auction record is $142,405,000 for Three Studies of Lucian Freud (2013, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Three Studies of Lucian Freud, 1969 | Oil paint | $142,405,000 | Christie's | Nov 2013 |
| 2 | Three Studies for a Portrait of John Edwards, 1984 | Oil paint | $80,805,000 | Christie's | May 2014 |
| 3 | Triptych 1986-7, 1986 | Triptych | $54,093,988 | Christie's | Mar 2022 |
| 4 | Study for Portrait of Lucian Freud | Oil paint | $52,713,332 | Sotheby's | Jun 2022 |
| 5 | Figure in Movement, 1976 | Oil paint | $52,160,000 | Christie's | Nov 2023 |
| 6 | Three Studies for a Portrait of George Dyer, 1963 | Triptych | $51,767,500 | Christie's | May 2017 |
| 7 | Study for Portrait, 1977 | Oil paint | $49,812,500 | Christie's | May 2018 |
| 8 | Portrait of Henrietta Moraes, 1963 | Oil paint | $47,765,000 | Christie's | May 2015 |
| 9 | Study of Red Pope 1962, 2nd Version 1971, 1971 | Oil paint | $46,284,500 | Sotheby's | May 2022 |
| 10 | Seated Figure, 1960 | Oil paint | $44,965,000 | Christie's | Nov 2014 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 91 | $8,497,564 |
| Other | 35 | $18,529 |
| Works on paper | 12 | $18,525 |
| Prints | 728 | $12,084 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 123 | $56,700 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 519 | $12,909 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 192 | $12,865 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 1,072 results from 83 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Francis Bacon is a British (modern) artist with 1,291 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $12,759. 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 $16,609, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**10 Francis Bacon works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Francis Bacon on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/francis-bacon?ref=kg:francis-bacon) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Francis Bacon work worth?

Across 1,066 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Francis Bacon work is $12,759.

The median Francis Bacon print sells for $11,497 across 887 lots.

The median Francis Bacon painting sells for $10,050,500 across 95 lots.

The median Francis Bacon work on paper sells for $22,937 across 8 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Francis Bacon prints typically sell for $7,342–$19,227 (the middle half of 572 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Francis Bacon prints typically sell for $5,415–$18,900 (the middle half of 176 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 | 1,001 | $11,497†‡ | $500,000 | 88.6% | 2026-10-28 |
| Paintings | 96 | $10.1M | $142M | — | 2026-10-14 |
| Works on Paper | 9 | $22,937 | $732,204 | 88.9% | 2026-10-07 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2 | $3,964 | $5,662 | — | 2019-09-29 |
| Photography | 5 | $1,179† | $52.2M | 80% | 2026-10-07 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 108 | $8.5M | $142M | — | 2026-06-24 |

† 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 (1,001 lots) median $11,497 with 88.6% sell-through. Paintings (96 lots) median $10,050,500, record $142,405,000. A typical Francis Bacon painting sells for around 874× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 108 lots) the median is $8,509,868.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 176 | $5,415–$18,900†‡ | $11,250†‡ | $50,400 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 572 | $7,342–$19,227†‡ | $11,584†‡ | $500,000 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 91 | $8,183–$34,301†‡ | $13,682†‡ | $93,203 |

† 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) | 33 | $5.3M–$21.5M | $11.5M | $51.8M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 18 | $730,212–$5.6M | $1.2M | $16M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 42 | $7.8M–$27.7M | $16.7M | $142M |

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2013 | $142M |
| Paintings | 2014 | $80.8M |
| Photography | 2023 | $52.2M |
| Works on Paper | 2006 | $732,204 |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $634,636 |
| Prints & Editions | 2015 | $500,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $162,451 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2019 | $5,662 |

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 Francis Bacon worth?

Across 1,066 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Francis Bacon work is $12,759. The median Francis Bacon print sells for $11,497 across 887 lots. The median Francis Bacon painting sells for $10,050,500 across 95 lots. The median Francis Bacon work on paper sells for $22,937 across 8 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Francis Bacon prints typically sell for $7,342–$19,227 (the middle half of 572 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Francis Bacon prints typically sell for $5,415–$18,900 (the middle half of 176 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 887 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Francis Bacon print is $11,497. 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 $500,000.

### What is the average price of a Francis Bacon painting?

Based on 95 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Francis Bacon painting is $10,050,500.

### What is Francis Bacon's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Francis Bacon painting is $142,405,000.

### What is the average price of a medium Francis Bacon print?

Based on 572 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Francis Bacon print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $11,584, 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 176 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Francis Bacon print (small (under 50 cm)) is $11,250, 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 $142,405,000, set in 2013.

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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, “Francis Bacon auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/francis-bacon (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.