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

# John Wilson (1774–1855)

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

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 81 auction results for John Wilson at 13 houses since 1996. Over the last 24 months the median price was $3,901 including buyer’s premium (middle half $3,112–$5,063, n=6). The auction record is $15,000 for Sherry (2015, Swann Auction Galleries). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sherry, 2000 | Color pastels and charcoal on wove paper | $15,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 2015 |
| 2 | Untitled (Two Boys in a Streetcar), 2015 | Gouache and watercolor on board | $11,875 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2018 |
| 3 | Self Portrait, No. 8, 2015 | Pencil and opaque marker on thin vellum paper | $10,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2023 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Richard Wright Suite, 2015 | Etchings with aquatint printed in blue and black on Rives BFK paper | $11,875 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 2025 |
| 2 | Mother and Child, 1922 | Lithograph | $11,400 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2009 |
| 3 | Straphangers, 1922 | Lithograph on cream wove paper | $9,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2008 |
| 4 | Mother and Child, 1922 | Lithograph | $7,800 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2011 |
| 5 | Mother and Child, 2015 | Lithograph on wove paper | $7,250 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2022 |
| 6 | The Trial, 1951 | Lithograph | $6,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 2018 |
| 7 | Mother and Child, 1922 | Lithograph on wove paper | $6,240 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2012 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Prints | 34 | $4,000 |
| Paintings | 5 | $693 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 27 | $4,000 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 17 | $2,112 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 81 results from 13 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


John Wilson is a British (modern) artist with 80 auction lots recorded since 1996, median price $2,450. 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 Wilson sold in 2026 for $3,048, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a John Wilson work worth?

Across 66 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John Wilson work is $2,450.

The median John Wilson print sells for $3,211 across 40 lots.

The median John Wilson painting sells for $354 across 25 lots.

The median John Wilson work on paper sells for $10,000 across 5 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) John Wilson prints typically sell for $3,000–$5,000 (the middle half of 25 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 | 40 | $3,211† | $11,875 | — | 2026-10-01 |
| Paintings | 36 | $354†‡ | $15,000† | 69.4% | 2024-03-27 |
| Works on Paper | 5 | $10,000‡ | $15,000 | — | 2023-10-19 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 5 | $11,875† | $15,000 | — | 2025-04-03 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

John Wilson's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (40 lots) median $3,211. Paintings (36 lots) median $354, record $15,000. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $15,000 (buyer's premium not included). At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 5 lots) the median is $11,875.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 25 | $3,000–$5,000 | $4,000 | $11,875 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 15 | $1,112–$5,145† | $2,500† | $7,800 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 11 | $271–$480†‡ | $319†‡ | $4,687‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 13 | $313–$693† | $415† | $15,000† |

† 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 | 1996 | $15,000† |
| Works on Paper | 2015 | $15,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $11,875 |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $11,875 |
| Prints & Editions | 2009 | $11,400 |
| Paintings | 2007 | $4,687‡ |

† 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 John Wilson worth?

Across 66 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John Wilson work is $2,450. The median John Wilson print sells for $3,211 across 40 lots. The median John Wilson painting sells for $354 across 25 lots. The median John Wilson work on paper sells for $10,000 across 5 lots. Small (under 50 cm) John Wilson prints typically sell for $3,000–$5,000 (the middle half of 25 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 Wilson print?

Based on 40 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John Wilson print is $3,211. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

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

The highest price recorded at auction for a John Wilson print is $11,875.

### What is the average price of a John Wilson painting?

Based on 25 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John Wilson painting is $354. 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 Wilson's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a John Wilson painting is $15,000. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $15,000 (buyer's premium not included).

### What is the average price of a small John Wilson print?

Based on 25 sold lots, the median auction price of a small John Wilson print (small (under 50 cm)) is $4,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is the average price of a medium John Wilson print?

Based on 15 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium John Wilson print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,500, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is John Wilson's auction record?

John Wilson's auction record is $15,000, set in 2015.

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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 Wilson auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/john-wilson (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.