John Martin (1789–1854)
What is John Martin’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 95 auction results for John Martin at 27 houses since 2000. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,041 including buyer’s premium (middle half $330–$4,679, n=22). The auction record is $199,205 for Edwin and Angelina, or The Hermit (2004, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edwin and Angelina, or The Hermit, 1789 | Oil paint | $199,205 | Christie's | Nov 2004 |
| 2 | Sunset over a rocky bay, 1789 | Pencil | $127,682 | Christie's | Dec 2024 |
| 3 | Diogenes throwing away his Cup, 1854 | Watercolour | $60,648 | Bonhams | Sep 2010 |
| 4 | Richmond Park, 1789 | Pencil, watercolour and bodycolour, heightened with gum arabic on buff paper | $48,292 | Christie's | Jul 2023 |
| 5 | Illustrations to Paradise Lost, 1789 | , without text (as issued), the full sheets with very wide margins, bound with tissue guards in contemporary purple half-roan over marbled paper covered boards with gilt-tooled spine and black morocco gilt-lettering piece to upper cover (album) | $41,226 | Christie's | Dec 2021 |
| 6 | The Triumph of Mordecai, 1789 | Pencil | $35,000 | Christie's | Jan 2012 |
| 7 | The Thames at Twickenham | Watercolor over pencil heightened with bodycolor and scratching out | $28,800 | Sotheby's | Feb 2025 |
| 8 | A hilly landscape with a shepherd and his flock and a seated figure gazing out towards the horizon, 1789 | Pencil | $20,000 | Christie's | Jan 2012 |
| 9 | Alexander visiting Diogenes, 1789 | Pencil | $19,369 | Christie's | Jul 2017 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paradise Lost (Volumes I & II), 1824-27 | The complete book two volumes, comprising 24 mezzotints, some plates with etching and touches of drypoint | $31,065 | Christie's | Sep 2026 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 11 | $6,502 |
| Other | 27 | $1,153 |
| Paintings | 14 | $1,033 |
| Prints | 10 | $695 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 20 | $1,592 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 40 | $1,028 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 95 results from 27 houses · How we compute these figures
John Martin is a British (modern) artist with 124 auction lots recorded since 2000, median price $1,020. 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 Martin sold in 2026 for $6,041, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full John Martin record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View John Martin on OpeningBid →What is a John Martin work worth?
Across 91 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John Martin work is $1,020.
The median John Martin print sells for $662 across 41 lots.
The median John Martin work on paper sells for $6,274 across 26 lots.
The median John Martin painting sells for $1,046 across 22 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) John Martin prints typically sell for $256–$763 (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 | 47 | $662†‡ | $31,065 | 87.2% | 2026-10-22 |
| Paintings | 28 | $1,046†‡ | $199,205 | 78.6% | 2025-11-04 |
| Works on Paper | 34 | $6,274†‡ | $127,682 | 76.5% | 2026-07-01 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 5 | $60,648 | $199,205 | — | 2024-12-04 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
John Martin's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (47 lots) median $662 with 87.2% sell-through. Paintings (28 lots) median $1,046, record $199,205. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 5 lots) the median is $60,648.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 28 | $256–$763† | $560† | $31,065 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 12 | $912–$1,606‡ | $1,225‡ | $4,560 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 12 | $368–$9,870†‡ | $1,456†‡ | $199,205 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 9 | $124–$1,220†‡ | $1,046†‡ | $6,937‡ |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ 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) | 16 | $767–$17,398†‡ | $5,638†‡ | $127,682 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $1,441–$22,200† | $8,562† | $48,292 |
† 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 | 2004 | $199,205 |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $127,682 |
| Paintings | 2010 | $60,648 |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $48,292 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $31,065 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $6,041 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a John Martin worth?
Across 91 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John Martin work is $1,020. The median John Martin print sells for $662 across 41 lots. The median John Martin work on paper sells for $6,274 across 26 lots. The median John Martin painting sells for $1,046 across 22 lots. Small (under 50 cm) John Martin prints typically sell for $256–$763 (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 Martin print?
Based on 41 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John Martin print is $662. 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 John Martin's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a John Martin print is $31,065.
What is the average price of a John Martin work on paper?
Based on 26 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John Martin work on paper is $6,274. 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 John Martin's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a John Martin work on paper is $127,682.
What is the average price of a John Martin painting?
Based on 22 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John Martin painting is $1,046. 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 John Martin's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a John Martin painting is $199,205.
What is the average price of a small John Martin print?
Based on 28 sold lots, the median auction price of a small John Martin print (small (under 50 cm)) is $560, 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 small John Martin work on paper?
Based on 16 sold lots, the median auction price of a small John Martin work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $5,638, 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 John Martin's auction record?
John Martin's auction record is $199,205, set in 2004.
See the full John Martin record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View John Martin on OpeningBid →