Martin Johnson Heade (1819–1904)
What is Martin Johnson Heade’s work worth?
As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 82 auction results for Martin Johnson Heade at 12 houses since 1998. Over the last 24 months the median price was $88,200 including buyer’s premium (middle half $42,370–$193,500, n=15). The auction record is $3,438,000 for Cattleya Orchid with Two Brazilian Hummingbirds (2024, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cattleya Orchid with Two Brazilian Hummingbirds, 1871 | Painting | $3,438,000 | Christie's | Jan 2024 |
| 2 | Hummingbirds and Gold and Purple Orchids, 1875 | Oil paint | $2,077,500 | Sotheby's | Jan 2025 |
| 3 | Nesting Hummingbirds, Brazilian Landscape, 1870 | Oil paint | $1,745,000 | Christie's | Nov 2015 |
| 4 | Magnolias on a Shiny Table, 1885 | Oil paint | $1,502,000 | Christie's | Jan 2025 |
| 5 | Magnolias on a Wooden Table, 1819 | Oil paint | $1,491,000 | Christie's | May 2000 |
| 6 | TWO "THORN-TAILS" (Langsdorffs Thorn-tail, Brazil) | Oil on linen mounted on board | $1,385,000 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |
| 7 | An Orchid with an Amethyst Woodstar, 1874 | An Orchid with an Amethyst Woodstar | $1,360,000 | Christie's | May 2006 |
| 8 | Orchid and Hummingbird, After a Storm, 1819 | Oil paint | $1,326,000 | Christie's | Nov 2001 |
| 9 | Hummingbird Perched on an Orchid Plant, 1819 | Oil paint | $1,136,000 | Christie's | May 2005 |
| 10 | Hummingbird Perched on the Orchid Plant, 1819 | Oil paint | $1,082,500 | Christie's | Nov 2012 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 65 | $150,000 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 30 | $305,000 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 40 | $75,988 |
Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 82 results from 12 houses · How we compute these figures
Martin Johnson Heade is an American artist with 103 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $142,250. 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 Martin Johnson Heade sold in 2026 for $698,500, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
2 Martin Johnson Heade works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-03). Follow Martin Johnson Heade free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Martin Johnson Heade record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Martin Johnson Heade on OpeningBid →What is a Martin Johnson Heade work worth?
Across 80 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Martin Johnson Heade work is $142,250.
The median Martin Johnson Heade painting sells for $160,500 across 70 lots.
The median Martin Johnson Heade work on paper sells for $2,000 across 7 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Martin Johnson Heade paintings typically sell for $42,370–$257,250 (the middle half of 35 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Martin Johnson Heade paintings typically sell for $110,850–$927,375 (the middle half of 34 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 79 | $160,500†‡ | $3.4M | 88.6% | 2026-09-24 |
| Works on Paper | 11 | $2,000‡ | $134,500 | 63.6% | 2022-09-22 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 47 | $350,000†‡ | $3.4M | — | 2026-01-24 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 35 | $42,370–$257,250‡ | $77,675‡ | $3.4M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 34 | $110,850–$927,375† | $229,100† | $2.1M |
† 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) | 7 | $1,200–$3,000‡ | $2,000‡ | $134,500 |
‡ 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 | 2024 | $3.4M |
| Paintings | 2025 | $2.1M |
| Works on Paper | 2010 | $134,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $3,250 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Martin Johnson Heade worth?
Across 80 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Martin Johnson Heade work is $142,250. The median Martin Johnson Heade painting sells for $160,500 across 70 lots. The median Martin Johnson Heade work on paper sells for $2,000 across 7 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Martin Johnson Heade paintings typically sell for $42,370–$257,250 (the middle half of 35 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Martin Johnson Heade paintings typically sell for $110,850–$927,375 (the middle half of 34 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 Martin Johnson Heade painting?
Based on 70 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Martin Johnson Heade painting is $160,500. 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 Martin Johnson Heade's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Martin Johnson Heade painting is $3,438,000.
What is the average price of a Martin Johnson Heade work on paper?
Based on 7 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Martin Johnson Heade work on paper is $2,000. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Martin Johnson Heade's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Martin Johnson Heade work on paper is $134,500.
What is the average price of a small Martin Johnson Heade painting?
Based on 35 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Martin Johnson Heade painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $77,675, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is the average price of a medium Martin Johnson Heade painting?
Based on 34 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Martin Johnson Heade painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $229,100, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Martin Johnson Heade's auction record?
Martin Johnson Heade's auction record is $3,438,000, set in 2024.
See the full Martin Johnson Heade record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Martin Johnson Heade on OpeningBid →