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

# John Frederick Lewis (1805–1876)

## What is John Frederick Lewis’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 53 auction results for John Frederick Lewis at 9 houses since 1998. Over the last 24 months the median price was $246,727 including buyer’s premium (middle half $26,904–$520,471, n=5). The auction record is $1,974,260 for An Arab of the desert of Sinai (2008, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | An Arab of the desert of Sinai, 1858 | Painting | $1,974,260 | Christie's | Jul 2008 |
| 2 | A Reception in the Harem, 1804 | Watercolour | $1,472,622 | Bonhams | Mar 2025 |
| 3 | Greeting in the Desert, Egypt (Selamat Teiyibin) | Oil on panel | $1,101,147 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |
| 4 | Portrait of a Memlook Bey, possibly a self-portrait, 1804 | Pencil | $610,773 | Christie's | Jul 2017 |
| 5 | Greetings in the Desert | — | $601,000 | Sotheby's | Apr 2008 |
| 6 | Interior of a Mosque at Cairo, Afternoon Prayer (The 'Asr) | Painting | $520,471 | Sotheby's | Jul 2025 |
| 7 | Interior of the Hagia Sophia, 1804 | Watercolour | $246,727 | Bonhams | Mar 2025 |
| 8 | A fakeer at the door of a mosque - Constantinople, 1863 | Watercolour | $112,276 | Koller Auktionen | Sep 2022 |
| 9 | A Kibab Shop, Scutari, Asia Minor, 1840-41 | Paper | $76,536 | Christie's | Jun 2012 |
| 10 | A Bedouin Encampment, Mount Sinai, 1805 | Pencil, stump, and watercolour heightened with white, on buff paper | $72,892 | Christie's | Jun 1999 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 6 | $291,486 |
| Works on paper | 21 | $22,566 |
| Other | 12 | $8,666 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 7 | $62,500 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 28 | $10,957 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 53 results from 9 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


John Frederick Lewis is a British (modern) artist with 72 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $12,389. 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 John Frederick Lewis sold in 2026 for $26,904, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a John Frederick Lewis work worth?

Across 52 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John Frederick Lewis work is $12,389.

The median John Frederick Lewis work on paper sells for $7,798 across 35 lots.

The median John Frederick Lewis painting sells for $149,354 across 8 lots.

The median John Frederick Lewis print sells for $13,380 across 1 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) John Frederick Lewis work on papers typically sell for $2,381–$14,909 (the middle half of 28 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 | 1 | $13,380 | $13,380 | — | 2022-05-25 |
| Paintings | 13 | $149,354 | $2M | 61.5% | 2025-07-02 |
| Works on Paper | 38 | $7,798‡ | $610,773 | 92.1% | 2026-07-01 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 8 | $605,887 | $2M | — | 2025-07-02 |

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

John Frederick Lewis's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (1 lots) median $13,380. Paintings (13 lots) median $149,354, record $1,974,260. A typical John Frederick Lewis painting sells for around 11× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 8 lots) the median is $605,887.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $18,047–$452,035 | $149,354 | $2M |

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 28 | $2,381–$14,909‡ | $6,795‡ | $610,773 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $9,524–$70,229‡ | $38,239‡ | $72,892 |

‡ 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 | 2008 | $2M |
| Paintings | 2025 | $1.5M |
| Works on Paper | 2017 | $610,773 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $112,276 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $13,380 |

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 John Frederick Lewis worth?

Across 52 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John Frederick Lewis work is $12,389. The median John Frederick Lewis work on paper sells for $7,798 across 35 lots. The median John Frederick Lewis painting sells for $149,354 across 8 lots. The median John Frederick Lewis print sells for $13,380 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) John Frederick Lewis work on papers typically sell for $2,381–$14,909 (the middle half of 28 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 John Frederick Lewis work on paper?

Based on 35 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John Frederick Lewis work on paper is $7,798. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is John Frederick Lewis's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a John Frederick Lewis work on paper is $610,773.

### What is the average price of a John Frederick Lewis painting?

Based on 8 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John Frederick Lewis painting is $149,354.

### What is John Frederick Lewis's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a John Frederick Lewis painting is $1,974,260.

### What is the average price of a small John Frederick Lewis work on paper?

Based on 28 sold lots, the median auction price of a small John Frederick Lewis work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $6,795, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is John Frederick Lewis's auction record?

John Frederick Lewis's auction record is $1,974,260, set in 2008.

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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, “John Frederick Lewis auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/john-frederick-lewis (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.