Mary Beale (1633–1699)
What is Mary Beale’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 48 auction results for Mary Beale at 13 houses since 1996. Over the last 24 months the median price was $29,630 including buyer’s premium (middle half $15,321–$35,135, n=7). The auction record is $127,619 for Head study of a boy, probably the artist's son Bartholomew Beale (2023, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 21 | $7,815 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 16 | $5,410 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $1,209 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 48 results from 13 houses · How we compute these figures
Mary Beale is a British (modern) artist with 53 auction lots recorded since 1996, median price $5,410. 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 Mary Beale sold in 2026 for $29,630, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Mary Beale record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Mary Beale on OpeningBid →What is a Mary Beale work worth?
Across 41 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Mary Beale work is $5,410.
The median Mary Beale painting sells for $4,050 across 30 lots.
The median Mary Beale work on paper sells for $80,113 across 2 lots.
The median Mary Beale print sells for $550 across 1 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Mary Beale paintings typically sell for $2,079–$9,077 (the middle half of 21 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 | 1 | $550‡ | $550‡ | — | 2021-03-25 |
| Paintings | 34 | $4,050†‡ | $40,640 | 88.2% | 2026-05-19 |
| Works on Paper | 2 | $80,113 | $127,619 | — | 2023-12-07 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 3 | $81,001 | $127,619 | — | 2025-12-04 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Mary Beale's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (1 lots) median $550. Paintings (34 lots) median $4,050, record $40,640. A typical Mary Beale painting sells for around 7.4× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 3 lots) the median is $81,001.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $1,209–$1,373† | $1,226† | $7,123† |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 21 | $2,079–$9,077†‡ | $4,050†‡ | $40,640 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $127,619 |
| Paintings | 2025 | $40,640 |
| Works on Paper | 2014 | $32,608 |
| Paintings | 2026 | $29,630 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $550‡ |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Mary Beale worth?
Across 41 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Mary Beale work is $5,410. The median Mary Beale painting sells for $4,050 across 30 lots. The median Mary Beale work on paper sells for $80,113 across 2 lots. The median Mary Beale print sells for $550 across 1 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Mary Beale paintings typically sell for $2,079–$9,077 (the middle half of 21 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 Mary Beale painting?
Based on 30 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Mary Beale painting is $4,050. 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 Mary Beale's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Mary Beale painting is $40,640.
What is the average price of a medium Mary Beale painting?
Based on 21 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Mary Beale painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $4,050, 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 Mary Beale's auction record?
Mary Beale's auction record is $127,619, set in 2023.
See the full Mary Beale record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Mary Beale on OpeningBid →