Joseph Wright of Derby (1734–1797)
What is Joseph Wright of Derby’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 45 auction results for Joseph Wright of Derby at 11 houses since 1999. Over the last 24 months the median price was $26,239 including buyer’s premium (middle half $13,942–$234,757, n=6). The auction record is $1,680,186 for Vesuvius in eruption, viewed from Posillipo (2021, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 9 | $62,900 |
| Paintings | 25 | $47,008 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 7 | $302,243 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 22 | $27,093 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 8 | $8,780 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 45 results from 11 houses · How we compute these figures
Joseph Wright of Derby is a British (modern) artist with 54 auction lots recorded since 1999, median price $21,885. 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 Wright of Derby sold in 2026 for $302,243, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Joseph Wright of Derby record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Joseph Wright of Derby on OpeningBid →What is a Joseph Wright of Derby work worth?
Across 43 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Joseph Wright of Derby work is $21,885.
The median Joseph Wright of Derby painting sells for $49,867 across 33 lots.
The median Joseph Wright of Derby work on paper sells for $5,697 across 5 lots.
The median Joseph Wright of Derby print sells for $1,340 across 4 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Joseph Wright of Derby paintings typically sell for $7,476–$81,089 (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
| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 4 | $1,340‡ | $3,020 | — | 2020-12-15 |
| Paintings | 34 | $49,867†‡ | $1.7M | 97.1% | 2026-07-01 |
| Works on Paper | 6 | $5,697‡ | $352,373 | 83.3% | 2026-07-01 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 11 | $302,243 | $1.7M | — | 2026-06-30 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Joseph Wright of Derby's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (4 lots) median $1,340. Paintings (34 lots) median $49,867, record $1,680,186. A typical Joseph Wright of Derby painting sells for around 37× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 11 lots) the median is $302,243.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $4,641–$20,178‡ | $13,631‡ | $26,029‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 20 | $7,476–$81,089†‡ | $34,447†‡ | $315,000 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 7 | $147,382–$455,689 | $302,243 | $1.7M |
† 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) | 5 | $3,062–$11,863‡ | $5,697‡ | $352,373 |
‡ 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 | 2021 | $1.7M |
| Paintings | 2009 | $508,387 |
| Works on Paper | 2006 | $352,373 |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $11,863 |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $3,020 |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $1,748 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Joseph Wright of Derby worth?
Across 43 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Joseph Wright of Derby work is $21,885. The median Joseph Wright of Derby painting sells for $49,867 across 33 lots. The median Joseph Wright of Derby work on paper sells for $5,697 across 5 lots. The median Joseph Wright of Derby print sells for $1,340 across 4 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Joseph Wright of Derby paintings typically sell for $7,476–$81,089 (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 Wright of Derby painting?
Based on 33 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Joseph Wright of Derby painting is $49,867. 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 Wright of Derby's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Joseph Wright of Derby painting is $1,680,186.
What is the average price of a medium Joseph Wright of Derby painting?
Based on 20 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Joseph Wright of Derby painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $34,447, 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 Joseph Wright of Derby's auction record?
Joseph Wright of Derby's auction record is $1,680,186, set in 2021.
See the full Joseph Wright of Derby record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Joseph Wright of Derby on OpeningBid →