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

# John Ruskin (1819–1900)

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

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 160 auction results for John Ruskin at 17 houses since 2000. Over the last 24 months the median price was $388 including buyer’s premium (middle half $247–$459, n=91). The auction record is $85,802 for La Cascade de la Folie, Chamonix (2023, Bonhams). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Cascade de la Folie, Chamonix, 1819 | Watercolour | $85,802 | Bonhams | Mar 2023 |
| 2 | The right-hand part of the portal of St Alypius on the west front of St Mark's Basilica, Venice, 1819 | Pencil, watercolour and bodycolour heightened with white, on two joined sheets of paper | $76,405 | Bonhams | Sep 2026 |
| 3 | The sun setting through clouds | Pencil and watercolour, heightened with bodycolour | $56,742 | Christie's | Dec 2016 |
| 4 | The Château of Amboise, 1819 | JOHN RUSKIN (LONDON 1819-1900 BRANTWOOD) | $34,425 | Christie's | Jul 2025 |
| 5 | A Dalmatian Pelican, 1819 | Pencil heightened with white on blue paper | $33,945 | Christie's | Jun 2014 |
| 6 | Verona, Can Grande Tomb, Madonna and Heraldic Dog | Watercolor over pencil, heightened with white | $30,240 | Sotheby's | Jan 2023 |
| 7 | View of the Kapellbrucke, with the Lake of Lucerne beyond, 1819 | Ink | $26,912 | Christie's | Jun 2008 |
| 8 | A footbridge, Wallington Hall, 1819 | With inscription 'J. Ruskin' (on an old label attached to the backboard) | $20,906 | Christie's | Jun 2002 |
| 9 | Juniper | — | $20,117 | Sotheby's | Dec 2008 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Macugnaga, Italy, 1819 | Watercolour | $15,807 | Bonhams | Jul 2019 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 43 | $4,170 |
| Prints | 8 | $2,256 |
| Other | 91 | $424 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 56 | $3,641 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 15 | $353 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 160 results from 17 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


John Ruskin is a British (modern) artist with 184 auction lots recorded since 2000, median price $488. 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 Ruskin is recorded as sold in 2026 for $1,200; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a John Ruskin work worth?

Across 158 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John Ruskin work is $488.

The median John Ruskin photograph sells for $371 across 61 lots.

The median John Ruskin work on paper sells for $4,672 across 47 lots.

The median John Ruskin print sells for $477 across 6 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) John Ruskin work on papers typically sell for $1,815–$9,674 (the middle half of 43 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 | 12 | $477† | $3,600 | 50% | 2025-07-09 |
| Paintings | 7 | $5,189 | $85,802 | — | 2024-07-04 |
| Works on Paper | 53 | $4,672†‡ | $76,405 | 88.7% | 2026-09-23 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $353 | $353 | — | 2025-07-09 |
| Photography | 63 | $371 | $2,825 | 96.8% | 2025-07-09 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 8 | $34,185 | $85,802 | — | 2026-09-23 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

John Ruskin's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (12 lots) median $477 with 50% sell-through. Paintings (7 lots) median $5,189, record $85,802. A typical John Ruskin 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 $34,185.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $4,352–$13,316 | $5,371 | $85,802 |

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 43 | $1,815–$9,674†‡ | $4,672†‡ | $56,742 |

† 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 | 2023 | $85,802 |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $76,405 |
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $56,742 |
| Paintings | 2019 | $15,807 |
| Prints & Editions | 2002 | $3,600 |
| Photography | 2025 | $2,825 |
| Photography | 2025 | $2,825 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $2,190 |

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 Ruskin worth?

Across 158 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John Ruskin work is $488. The median John Ruskin photograph sells for $371 across 61 lots. The median John Ruskin work on paper sells for $4,672 across 47 lots. The median John Ruskin print sells for $477 across 6 lots. Small (under 50 cm) John Ruskin work on papers typically sell for $1,815–$9,674 (the middle half of 43 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 Ruskin photograph?

Based on 61 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John Ruskin photograph is $371.

### What is John Ruskin's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a John Ruskin photograph is $2,825.

### What is the average price of a John Ruskin work on paper?

Based on 47 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John Ruskin work on paper is $4,672. 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 Ruskin's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a John Ruskin work on paper is $76,405.

### What is the average price of a John Ruskin print?

Based on 6 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John Ruskin print is $477. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is John Ruskin's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a John Ruskin print is $3,600.

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

Based on 43 sold lots, the median auction price of a small John Ruskin work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $4,672, 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 Ruskin's auction record?

John Ruskin's auction record is $85,802, set in 2023.

---

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 Ruskin auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/john-ruskin (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.