> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/george-frederick-watts · updated 2026-11-02

# George Frederick Watts (1817–1904)

## What is George Frederick Watts’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 35 auction results for George Frederick Watts at 13 houses since 1998. Over the last 24 months the median price was $836 including buyer’s premium (middle half $679–$9,043, n=5). The auction record is $237,189 for Physical Energy (2025, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Physical Energy | Bronze | $237,189 | Sotheby's | Dec 2025 |
| 2 | Clytie, 1817 | Painted plaster | $107,395 | Christie's | Dec 2014 |
| 3 | PORTRAIT OF MISS LILIAN MACINTOSH | Oil on canvas, framed as an oval | $80,639 | Sotheby's | May 2007 |
| 4 | Hero, 1817 | Painting | $55,385 | Bonhams | Mar 2021 |
| 5 | Head study of Henry Wyndham Phillips (1801-1876), bust-length, 1817 | Black chalk | $50,750 | Christie's | Jun 2015 |
| 6 | Forward!, 1817 | Black chalk | $33,670 | Christie's | Nov 2004 |
| 7 | Portrait of Emma Elizabeth Brandling, later Lady Lilford, 1817 | Oil paint | $20,506 | Christie's | Dec 2013 |
| 8 | Study for the figure of Diana in the fresco 'Apollo and Diana', 1817 | Oil paint | $12,730 | Christie's | Jun 2014 |
| 9 | A spaniel with a rat, 1817 | Painting | $10,424 | Bonhams | Sep 2010 |
| 10 | The Three Graces - a study of three classical figures | Grisaille oil sketch on canvas | $9,043 | Sworders | Nov 2024 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 7 | $9,043 |
| Other | 11 | $3,008 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 8 | $9,545 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 13 | $1,443 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 35 results from 13 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


George Frederick Watts is a British (modern) artist with 44 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $3,008. 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 George Frederick Watts sold in 2025 for $237,189, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a George Frederick Watts work worth?

Across 34 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a George Frederick Watts work is $3,008.

The median George Frederick Watts work on paper sells for $638 across 13 lots.

The median George Frederick Watts painting sells for $16,618 across 9 lots.

The median George Frederick Watts print sells for $72 across 4 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 | 5 | $72†‡ | $276‡ | 80% | 2020-07-31 |
| Paintings | 13 | $16,618‡ | $55,385 | 69.2% | 2023-10-04 |
| Works on Paper | 14 | $638‡ | $50,750 | 92.9% | 2026-02-11 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2 | $172,292 | $237,189 | — | 2025-12-04 |
| Photography | 2 | $592 | $592 | 50% | 2016-06-12 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

George Frederick Watts's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (5 lots) median $72 with 80% sell-through. Paintings (13 lots) median $16,618, record $55,385. A typical George Frederick Watts painting sells for around 230× the price of a typical print.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $10,857–$27,198‡ | $16,330‡ | $31,602‡ |

‡ 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) | 9 | $331–$1,443‡ | $575‡ | $33,670 |

‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2025 | $237,189 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2014 | $107,395 |
| Paintings | 2021 | $55,385 |
| Works on Paper | 2015 | $50,750 |
| Works on Paper | 2004 | $33,670 |
| Paintings | 2023 | $31,602‡ |
| Photography | 2016 | $592 |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $276‡ |

‡ 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 George Frederick Watts worth?

Across 34 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a George Frederick Watts work is $3,008. The median George Frederick Watts work on paper sells for $638 across 13 lots. The median George Frederick Watts painting sells for $16,618 across 9 lots. The median George Frederick Watts print sells for $72 across 4 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 George Frederick Watts work on paper?

Based on 13 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a George Frederick Watts work on paper is $638. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is George Frederick Watts's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a George Frederick Watts work on paper is $50,750.

### What is the average price of a George Frederick Watts painting?

Based on 9 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a George Frederick Watts painting is $16,618. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is George Frederick Watts's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a George Frederick Watts painting is $55,385.

### What is George Frederick Watts's auction record?

George Frederick Watts's auction record is $237,189, set in 2025.

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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, “George Frederick Watts auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/george-frederick-watts (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.