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

# James Barry (1741–1806)

## What is James Barry’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 30 auction results for James Barry at 14 houses since 2010. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,907 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,119–$2,043, n=5). The auction record is $113,611 for Seated male nude (2016, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seated male nude | Pencil, black chalk, pen and black ink heightened with white chalk on buff paper | $113,611 | Christie's | Sep 2016 |
| 2 | Self-portrait of the artist, 1756 | Mezzotint on fibrous wove paper | $29,419 | Forum Auctions | Mar 2020 |
| 3 | Milo of Croton | Brush and brown wash with touches of pen (recto); pen and brown ink (verso); and pencil heightened with white on buff paper | $21,099 | Christie's | Sep 2016 |
| 4 | Madonna and Child | Pen and brown ink, brown wash, inscribed in a circle, watermark Britannia | $19,476 | Christie's | Sep 2016 |
| 5 | Self-portrait of the artist, 1756 | Mezzotint, cream wove paper | $17,834 | Forum Auctions | Mar 2020 |
| 6 | A Group of Recumbent Figures Huddled Among Blankets, 1741 | Ink and wash on laid paper | $3,965 | Neal Auction Company | Feb 2012 |
| 7 | Jupiter and Juno on Mount Ida, 1790 | 1790, on laid paper, without watermark, a fine impression of this rare print, Pressly's second, final state, published by the artist, with thread margins, trimmed to or just within the platemark in places above, in good condition | $3,323 | Christie's | Jul 2022 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Sebastian, circa 1776 | Soft-ground etching with roulette work and foul biting, on wove paper | $35,706 | Christie's | Sep 2016 |
| 2 | The Conversion of Polemon, 1806 | Wove paper | $8,299 | Bonhams | Dec 2019 |
| 3 | Divine Justice, circa 1802 | Etching and engraving | $6,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | May 2020 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 10 | $13,066 |
| Prints | 9 | $1,907 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 12 | $10,899 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 10 | $2,051 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 30 results from 14 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


James Barry is an Irish artist with 47 auction lots recorded since 2005, median price $3,017. 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 Barry sold in 2022 for $3,323, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a James Barry work worth?

Across 27 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a James Barry work is $3,017.

The median James Barry print sells for $3,513 across 16 lots.

The median James Barry work on paper sells for $3,965 across 7 lots.

The median James Barry painting sells for $2,285 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 | 30 | $3,513‡ | $35,706 | 53.3% | 2025-05-15 |
| Paintings | 5 | $2,285†‡ | $2,527 | 80% | 2026-06-10 |
| Works on Paper | 9 | $3,965† | $113,611 | 77.8% | 2024-12-04 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

James Barry's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (30 lots) median $3,513 with 53.3% sell-through. Paintings (5 lots) median $2,285, record $2,527.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $3,323–$29,419 | $17,834 | $35,706 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 11 | $1,294–$6,652‡ | $3,017‡ | $21,771‡ |

‡ 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) | 6 | $2,787–$20,694 | $11,721 | $113,611 |

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $113,611 |
| Prints & Editions | 2016 | $35,706 |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $29,419 |
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $21,099 |
| Paintings | 2010 | $2,527 |
| Paintings | 2026 | $2,512‡ |

‡ 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 James Barry worth?

Across 27 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a James Barry work is $3,017. The median James Barry print sells for $3,513 across 16 lots. The median James Barry work on paper sells for $3,965 across 7 lots. The median James Barry painting sells for $2,285 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 James Barry print?

Based on 16 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a James Barry print is $3,513. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is James Barry's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a James Barry print is $35,706.

### What is the average price of a medium James Barry print?

Based on 11 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium James Barry print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $3,017, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is James Barry's auction record?

James Barry's auction record is $113,611, set in 2016.

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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, “James Barry auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/james-barry (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.