> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/joseph-wright-of-derby · updated 2026-11-02 # Joseph Wright of Derby (1734–1797) ## What is Joseph Wright of Derby’s work worth? {#value} 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. **Top auction records: paintings, drawings & sculpture** | # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1 | Vesuvius in eruption, viewed from Posillipo, 1734 | Oil paint | $1,680,186 | Christie's | Jul 2021 | | 2 | Portrait of Francis Burdett, three-quarter-length, in the blue velvet coat, red waistcoat and yellow breeches of the Markeaton Hunt, holding a hat and a whip, in a wooded landscape, 1734 | Portrait of Francis Burdett, three-quarter-length, in the blue velvet coat, red waistcoat and yellow breeches of the Markeaton Hunt, holding a hat and a whip, in a wooded landscape | $508,387 | Christie's | Jul 2009 | | 3 | Portrait of Harry Peckham (1740-1787), three-quarter-length, in the livery of the Markeaton Hunt, holding a hat, with a terrier at his side | Oil on canvas | $402,991 | Christie's | Jun 2026 | | 4 | Portrait of a lady, bust-length, her head turned to the right, wearing an earring, 1734 | Chalk | $352,373 | Christie's | Jun 2006 | | 5 | A grotto in the Gulf of Salerno, with the figure of Julia, 1734 | Oil paint | $315,000 | Christie's | Jan 2023 | | 6 | Portrait of Francis Noel Clarke Mundy (1739-1815), three-quarter-length, in the livery of the Markeaton Hunt, holding a riding crop, with a hound at his side | Oil on canvas | $302,243 | Christie's | Jun 2026 | | 7 | Portrait of Miss Ann Carver before a landscape, three-quarter-length, 1734 | Oil paint | $212,500 | Christie's | Apr 2021 | | 8 | A moonlit landscape, 1734 | Oil paint | $190,000 | Christie's | Jun 2022 | | 9 | Portrait of Old John, Head Waiter at the King's Head Inn in Derby, 1734 | Oil paint | $142,193 | Christie's | Dec 2017 | | 10 | A moonlit landscape, 1734 | Oil paint | $136,828 | Christie's | Jul 2023 | **Median price by medium (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)** | Medium | Sales | Median | |---|---|---| | Other | 9 | $62,900 | | Paintings | 25 | $47,008 | **Median price by size (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)** | 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](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data) 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. ## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up). ## 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. --- Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly. Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Joseph Wright of Derby auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/joseph-wright-of-derby (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.