James Abbott McNeill Whistler (1834–1903)
James Abbott McNeill Whistler is an American artist with 874 auction lots recorded since 1992, median price $1,600. 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 James Abbott McNeill Whistler sold in 2025 for $5,096, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
1 James Abbott McNeill Whistler work is coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow James Abbott McNeill Whistler free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full James Abbott McNeill Whistler record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View James Abbott McNeill Whistler on OpeningBid →What is a James Abbott McNeill Whistler work worth?
Across 673 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a James Abbott McNeill Whistler work is $1,600.
The median James Abbott McNeill Whistler print sells for $1,600 across 665 lots.
The median James Abbott McNeill Whistler painting sells for $463 across 3 lots.
The median James Abbott McNeill Whistler work on paper sells for $422 across 3 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) James Abbott McNeill Whistler prints typically sell for $1,000–$3,140 (the middle half of 568 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 | 817 | $1,600†‡ | $90,000 | 81.4% | 2025-12-05 |
| Paintings | 4 | $463‡ | $752‡ | 75% | 2025-11-19 |
| Works on Paper | 4 | $422†‡ | $1,650‡ | 75% | 2024-08-01 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 34 | $16,625 | $90,000 | — | 2021-03-04 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
James Abbott McNeill Whistler's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (817 lots) median $1,600 with 81.4% sell-through. Paintings (4 lots) median $463, record $752. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 34 lots) the median is $16,625.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 568 | $1,000–$3,140†‡ | $1,600†‡ | $90,000 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2011 | $90,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2011 | $72,084 |
| Works on Paper | 2004 | $1,650‡ |
| Paintings | 2024 | $752‡ |
| Paintings | 2025 | $463‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $422‡ |
‡ 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 James Abbott McNeill Whistler worth?
Across 673 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a James Abbott McNeill Whistler work is $1,600. The median James Abbott McNeill Whistler print sells for $1,600 across 665 lots. The median James Abbott McNeill Whistler painting sells for $463 across 3 lots. The median James Abbott McNeill Whistler work on paper sells for $422 across 3 lots. Small (under 50 cm) James Abbott McNeill Whistler prints typically sell for $1,000–$3,140 (the middle half of 568 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 James Abbott McNeill Whistler print?
Based on 665 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a James Abbott McNeill Whistler print is $1,600. 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 James Abbott McNeill Whistler's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a James Abbott McNeill Whistler print is $90,000.
What is the average price of a small James Abbott McNeill Whistler print?
Based on 568 sold lots, the median auction price of a small James Abbott McNeill Whistler print (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,600, 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 James Abbott McNeill Whistler's auction record?
James Abbott McNeill Whistler's auction record is $90,000, set in 2011.
See the full James Abbott McNeill Whistler record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
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