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Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775–1851)

What is Joseph Mallord William Turner’s work worth?

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 226 auction results for Joseph Mallord William Turner at 30 houses since 1997. Over the last 24 months the median price was $109,298 including buyer’s premium (middle half $30,420–$385,645, n=31). The auction record is $44,898,048 for Modern Rome - Campo Vaccino (2010, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

Top auction records: paintings, drawings & sculpture
#WorkMediumPriceHouseSold
1Modern Rome - Campo VaccinoOil on canvas (unlined), held in the original plaster gilt and glazed frame$44,898,048Sotheby'sJul 2010
2Depositing of John Bellini's Three Pictures in La Chiesa Redentore, Venice, 1841Oil paint$33,595,000Christie'sNov 2022
3The Temple of Jupiter Panellenius RestoredOil on canvas$12,962,500Sotheby'sJan 2009
4Ehrenbreitstein, or The Bright Stone of Honour and the Tomb of Marceau, from Byron’s 'Childe Harold's Pilgrimage', 1775Oil paint$11,905,000Christie'sNov 2025
5Pope's Villa at Twickenham—$10,687,610Sotheby'sJul 2008
6A Swiss Lake, Lungernzee, circa 1848Watercolour over pencil with stopping out heightened with white, pen with red watercolour and with touches of gum arabic, on wove paper, watermarked: J Whatman 1846$7,267,228Sotheby'sJul 2007
7Purfleet and the Essex Shore as seen from Long Reach, 1808Oil on canvas$6,633,660Sotheby'sJul 2021
8Venice: Looking towards the Dogana and San Giorgio Maggiore, with a Storm Approaching—$6,025,104Sotheby'sJul 2007
9Pope's Villa at Twickenham, 1775Oil paint$4,620,000Christie'sJan 2023
10The Lungernsee by Moonlight, Switzerland, 1848Pencil$4,620,000Christie'sNov 2022
Median price by medium (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)
MediumSalesMedian
Paintings19$1,014,261
Other71$138,863
Works on paper85$117,536
Prints17$604
Median price by size (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)
SizeSalesMedian
Large (over 120 cm)7$4,620,000
Medium (50-120 cm)31$147,281
Small (under 50 cm)133$96,585

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 226 results from 30 houses · How we compute these figures

Joseph Mallord William Turner is a British (modern) artist with 281 auction lots recorded since 1997, median price $70,147. 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 Joseph Mallord William Turner sold in 2026 for $642,171, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

1 Joseph Mallord William Turner work is coming to auction (as of 2026-11-03). Follow Joseph Mallord William Turner free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.

See the full Joseph Mallord William Turner record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.

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What is a Joseph Mallord William Turner work worth?

Across 222 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Joseph Mallord William Turner work is $70,147.

The median Joseph Mallord William Turner work on paper sells for $91,592 across 128 lots.

The median Joseph Mallord William Turner painting sells for $113,508 across 49 lots.

The median Joseph Mallord William Turner print sells for $466 across 22 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Joseph Mallord William Turner work on papers typically sell for $12,874–$229,822 (the middle half of 116 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Joseph Mallord William Turner paintings typically sell for $2,530–$577,940 (the middle half of 20 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

CategoryLots trackedMedian priceRecord priceSell-throughLast sale
Prints & Editions25$466†‡$47,20288%2026-05-16
Paintings53$113,508†‡$44.9M92.5%2025-12-03
Works on Paper154$91,592†‡$5.8M83.1%2026-07-02
Photography1——0%—
Masterpieces (top of market)100$403,619‡$44.9M—2026-07-02

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

Joseph Mallord William Turner's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (25 lots) median $466 with 88% sell-through. Paintings (53 lots) median $113,508, record $44,898,048. A typical Joseph Mallord William Turner painting sells for around 243× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 100 lots) the median is $403,619.

Price by size

Prints & Editions

SizeSold lotsTypical range (p25–p75)MedianRecord
small (under 50 cm)13$189–$979†‡$511†‡$47,202
medium (50–120 cm)6$176–$599†‡$433†‡$16,597

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

Paintings

SizeSold lotsTypical range (p25–p75)MedianRecord
small (under 50 cm)20$32,381–$466,807‡$134,756‡$1.3M
medium (50–120 cm)20$2,530–$577,940‡$25,785‡$33.6M
large (over 120 cm)7$4,826–$8.3M†$1.4M†$44.9M

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

Works on Paper

SizeSold lotsTypical range (p25–p75)MedianRecord
small (under 50 cm)116$12,874–$229,822†‡$84,226†‡$5.8M
medium (50–120 cm)10$165,345–$691,004‡$321,949‡$4.6M

† 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

MediumYearPrice
Paintings2010$44.9M
Paintings2022$33.6M
Works on Paper2006$5.8M
Works on Paper2022$4.6M
Prints & Editions2014$47,202
Prints & Editions2023$16,597

The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Joseph Mallord William Turner worth?

Across 222 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Joseph Mallord William Turner work is $70,147. The median Joseph Mallord William Turner work on paper sells for $91,592 across 128 lots. The median Joseph Mallord William Turner painting sells for $113,508 across 49 lots. The median Joseph Mallord William Turner print sells for $466 across 22 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Joseph Mallord William Turner work on papers typically sell for $12,874–$229,822 (the middle half of 116 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Joseph Mallord William Turner paintings typically sell for $2,530–$577,940 (the middle half of 20 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 Joseph Mallord William Turner work on paper?

Based on 128 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Joseph Mallord William Turner work on paper is $91,592. 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 Joseph Mallord William Turner's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Joseph Mallord William Turner work on paper is $5,832,000.

What is the average price of a Joseph Mallord William Turner painting?

Based on 49 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Joseph Mallord William Turner painting is $113,508. 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 Joseph Mallord William Turner's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Joseph Mallord William Turner painting is $44,898,048.

What is the average price of a Joseph Mallord William Turner print?

Based on 22 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Joseph Mallord William Turner print is $466. 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 Joseph Mallord William Turner's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Joseph Mallord William Turner print is $47,202.

What is the average price of a small Joseph Mallord William Turner work on paper?

Based on 116 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Joseph Mallord William Turner work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $84,226, 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 the average price of a medium Joseph Mallord William Turner painting?

Based on 20 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Joseph Mallord William Turner painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $25,785, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

What is Joseph Mallord William Turner's auction record?

Joseph Mallord William Turner's auction record is $44,898,048, set in 2010.

See the full Joseph Mallord William Turner record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.

View Joseph Mallord William Turner on OpeningBid →