Lucian Freud (1922–2011)
Lucian Freud is a British artist with 83 auction lots recorded since 1999, median price $20,862. 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 Lucian Freud sold in 2019 for $51,977, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Lucian Freud record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Lucian Freud on OpeningBid →What is a Lucian Freud work worth?
Across 76 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Lucian Freud work is $20,862.
The median Lucian Freud print sells for $22,020 across 54 lots.
The median Lucian Freud work on paper sells for $29,645 across 14 lots.
The median Lucian Freud photograph sells for $4,636 across 1 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Lucian Freud prints typically sell for $10,980–$38,372 (the middle half of 36 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 | 54 | $22,020†‡ | $142,495 | — | 2026-04-14 |
| Paintings | 2 | $111,592† | $206,168 | — | 2023-10-26 |
| Works on Paper | 16 | $29,645†‡ | $100,578 | 87.5% | 2025-06-10 |
| Photography | 2 | $4,636 | $4,636 | 50% | 2019-09-10 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 5 | $131,478 | $206,168 | — | 2019-09-10 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Lucian Freud's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (54 lots) median $22,020. Paintings (2 lots) median $111,592, record $206,168. A typical Lucian Freud painting sells for around 5.1× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 5 lots) the median is $131,478.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 36 | $10,980–$38,372† | $18,236† | $142,495 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 17 | $21,635–$47,145 | $35,432 | $131,478 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 10 | $14,507–$60,438†‡ | $25,162†‡ | $100,578 |
† 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 | 2002 | $206,168 |
| Prints & Editions | 2003 | $142,495 |
| Prints & Editions | 2007 | $131,478 |
| Works on Paper | 2006 | $100,578 |
| Works on Paper | 2013 | $85,004 |
| Paintings | 2023 | $17,016† |
| Photography | 2019 | $4,636 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Lucian Freud worth?
Across 76 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Lucian Freud work is $20,862. The median Lucian Freud print sells for $22,020 across 54 lots. The median Lucian Freud work on paper sells for $29,645 across 14 lots. The median Lucian Freud photograph sells for $4,636 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Lucian Freud prints typically sell for $10,980–$38,372 (the middle half of 36 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 Lucian Freud print?
Based on 54 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Lucian Freud print is $22,020. 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 Lucian Freud's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Lucian Freud print is $142,495.
What is the average price of a Lucian Freud work on paper?
Based on 14 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Lucian Freud work on paper is $29,645. 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 Lucian Freud's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Lucian Freud work on paper is $100,578.
What is the average price of a small Lucian Freud print?
Based on 36 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Lucian Freud print (small (under 50 cm)) is $18,236, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is the average price of a medium Lucian Freud print?
Based on 17 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Lucian Freud print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $35,432, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is Lucian Freud's auction record?
Lucian Freud's auction record is $206,168, set in 2002.
See the full Lucian Freud record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Lucian Freud on OpeningBid →