> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/john-martin · updated 2026-11-03

# John Martin (1789–1854)

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

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 96 auction results for John Martin at 28 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.

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

| # | 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 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | 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 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 11 | $6,502 |
| Other | 27 | $1,153 |
| Paintings | 14 | $1,033 |
| Prints | 10 | $695 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 20 | $1,592 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 40 | $1,028 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 96 results from 28 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


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.

## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## 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.

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Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “John Martin auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/john-martin (updated 2026-11-03).

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.