Jagdish Swaminathan (1928–1994)
What is Jagdish Swaminathan’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 139 auction results for Jagdish Swaminathan at 9 houses since 2003. Over the last 24 months the median price was $134,932 including buyer’s premium (middle half $28,821–$394,400, n=26). The auction record is $4,686,000 for Homage to Solzhenitsyn (Triptych) (2025, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Homage to Solzhenitsyn (Triptych), 1973 | Oil on canvas | $4,686,000 | Sotheby's | Mar 2025 |
| 2 | Untitled (oil on canvas), 1991 | Oil paint | $4,375,000 | Christie's | Dec 2016 |
| 3 | Untitled (oil on canvas), 1993 | Oil on canvas | $1,520,663 | Pundole's | Sep 2020 |
| 4 | Untitled (oil and wax on canvas), 1928 | Painting | $989,643 | Bonhams | Dec 2024 |
| 5 | Untitled (Bird, Tree and Mountain Series), 1971 | Oil paint | $819,000 | Christie's | Sep 2022 |
| 6 | Untitled (oil on canvas) | Oil paint | $614,400 | Sotheby's | Mar 2020 |
| 7 | Untitled (oil and wax on canvas), 1991 | Oil paint | $530,500 | Christie's | Sep 2009 |
| 8 | Untitled (Bird, Tree and Mountain), 1976 | Oil on canvas | $507,565 | Saffronart | Jun 2026 |
| 9 | Untitled (oil on canvas), 1986 | Oil on canvas | $499,998 | Saffronart | Sep 2026 |
| 10 | Untitled (Bird, Mountain & Tree), 1983 | Oil on canvas | $495,961 | Christie's | Mar 2006 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 82 | $158,346 |
| Works on paper | 10 | $6,684 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 17 | $312,000 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 62 | $130,568 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $6,723 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 139 results from 9 houses · How we compute these figures
Jagdish Swaminathan is an Indian artist with 153 auction lots recorded since 2003, median price $127,722. 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 Jagdish Swaminathan sold in 2026 for $137,829, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Jagdish Swaminathan record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Jagdish Swaminathan on OpeningBid →What is a Jagdish Swaminathan work worth?
Across 139 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Jagdish Swaminathan work is $127,722.
The median Jagdish Swaminathan painting sells for $161,541 across 94 lots.
The median Jagdish Swaminathan work on paper sells for $6,006 across 20 lots.
The median Jagdish Swaminathan print sells for $6,300 across 3 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Jagdish Swaminathan paintings typically sell for $87,444–$272,027 (the middle half of 59 sold lots).
Large (over 120 cm) Jagdish Swaminathan paintings typically sell for $206,056–$657,182 (the middle half of 24 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 | 3 | $6,300 | $103,529 | — | 2021-10-13 |
| Paintings | 96 | $161,541† | $4.7M | 97.9% | 2026-09-21 |
| Works on Paper | 20 | $6,006†‡ | $21,420 | — | 2023-08-31 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 72 | $238,427† | $4.7M | — | 2026-09-21 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Jagdish Swaminathan's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (3 lots) median $6,300. Paintings (96 lots) median $161,541, record $4,686,000. A typical Jagdish Swaminathan painting sells for around 26× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 72 lots) the median is $238,427.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 59 | $87,444–$272,027† | $129,102† | $4.4M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 24 | $206,056–$657,182† | $319,427† | $4.7M |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 9 | $3,413–$6,723† | $5,563† | $16,250 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $5,203–$14,188† | $9,772† | $21,420 |
† 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 | 2025 | $4.7M |
| Paintings | 2016 | $4.4M |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $103,529 |
| Works on Paper | 2010 | $21,420 |
| Works on Paper | 2017 | $16,250 |
| Prints & Editions | 2010 | $6,300 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Jagdish Swaminathan worth?
Across 139 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Jagdish Swaminathan work is $127,722. The median Jagdish Swaminathan painting sells for $161,541 across 94 lots. The median Jagdish Swaminathan work on paper sells for $6,006 across 20 lots. The median Jagdish Swaminathan print sells for $6,300 across 3 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Jagdish Swaminathan paintings typically sell for $87,444–$272,027 (the middle half of 59 sold lots). Large (over 120 cm) Jagdish Swaminathan paintings typically sell for $206,056–$657,182 (the middle half of 24 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 Jagdish Swaminathan painting?
Based on 94 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jagdish Swaminathan painting is $161,541. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Jagdish Swaminathan's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Jagdish Swaminathan painting is $4,686,000.
What is the average price of a Jagdish Swaminathan work on paper?
Based on 20 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jagdish Swaminathan work on paper is $6,006. 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 Jagdish Swaminathan's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Jagdish Swaminathan work on paper is $21,420.
What is the average price of a medium Jagdish Swaminathan painting?
Based on 59 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Jagdish Swaminathan painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $129,102, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is the average price of a large Jagdish Swaminathan painting?
Based on 24 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Jagdish Swaminathan painting (large (over 120 cm)) is $319,427, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Jagdish Swaminathan's auction record?
Jagdish Swaminathan's auction record is $4,686,000, set in 2025.
See the full Jagdish Swaminathan record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Jagdish Swaminathan on OpeningBid →