> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/johann-moritz-rugendas · updated 2026-11-01

# Johann Moritz Rugendas (1802–1858)

Johann Moritz Rugendas is a German artist with 55 auction lots recorded since 2001, median price $77,094. 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 Johann Moritz Rugendas sold in 2023 for $88,900, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Johann Moritz Rugendas work worth?

Across 38 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Johann Moritz Rugendas work is $77,094.

The median Johann Moritz Rugendas painting sells for $125,956 across 27 lots.

The median Johann Moritz Rugendas work on paper sells for $2,053 across 4 lots.

The median Johann Moritz Rugendas print sells for $1,933 across 2 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 | 2 | $1,933†‡ | $3,295‡ | — | 2026-04-23 |
| Paintings | 28 | $125,956†‡ | $903,583 | 96.4% | 2024-01-19 |
| Works on Paper | 8 | $2,053‡ | $3,006 | 50% | 2025-11-07 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 15 | $484,819 | $903,583 | — | 2017-12-14 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Johann Moritz Rugendas's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (2 lots) median $1,933. Paintings (28 lots) median $125,956, record $903,583. A typical Johann Moritz Rugendas painting sells for around 65× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 15 lots) the median is $484,819.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 11 | $30,741–$61,683† | $44,450† | $221,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 16 | $119,342–$604,466‡ | $385,160‡ | $903,583 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2016 | $903,583 |
| Paintings | 2016 | $694,201 |
| Prints & Editions | 2019 | $3,295‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $3,006 |
| Works on Paper | 2009 | $2,719‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $571† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ 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 Johann Moritz Rugendas worth?

Across 38 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Johann Moritz Rugendas work is $77,094. The median Johann Moritz Rugendas painting sells for $125,956 across 27 lots. The median Johann Moritz Rugendas work on paper sells for $2,053 across 4 lots. The median Johann Moritz Rugendas print sells for $1,933 across 2 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 Johann Moritz Rugendas painting?

Based on 27 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Johann Moritz Rugendas painting is $125,956. 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 Johann Moritz Rugendas's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Johann Moritz Rugendas painting is $903,583.

### What is the average price of a medium Johann Moritz Rugendas painting?

Based on 16 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Johann Moritz Rugendas painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $385,160, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is the average price of a small Johann Moritz Rugendas painting?

Based on 11 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Johann Moritz Rugendas painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $44,450, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Johann Moritz Rugendas's auction record?

Johann Moritz Rugendas's auction record is $903,583, set in 2016.

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Data last updated 2026-11-01. OpeningBid tracks 15,222,099 auction lots from 571 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Johann Moritz Rugendas auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/johann-moritz-rugendas (updated 2026-11-01).

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.