> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/mary-beale · updated 2026-11-02

# Mary Beale (1633–1699)

## What is Mary Beale’s work worth? {#value}

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.

**Top auction records: paintings, drawings & sculpture**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Head study of a boy, probably the artist's son Bartholomew Beale | Oil paint | $127,619 | Sotheby's | Dec 2023 |
| 2 | Portrait of a female artist, 1918 | Portrait | $81,001 | Bonhams | Apr 2017 |
| 3 | Self-portrait, half-length, in a painted stone cartouche, 1680 | Portrait | $50,826 | Sotheby's | Dec 2025 |
| 4 | Portrait of a Girl in a Blue Satin Dress | Oil on canvas | $40,640 | Sotheby's | May 2025 |
| 5 | Figurenstudie | Black Chalk drawing, partly white-heightened on brown wash laid paper | $32,608 | Ketterer Kunst | Nov 2014 |
| 6 | Portrait of a lady, three-quarter-length seated, in a brown silk dress and blue wrap, 2000 | Oil on canvas | $29,630 | Sworders | May 2026 |
| 7 | oil on canvas | Oil on canvas | $29,630 | Sworders | May 2026 |
| 8 | Portrait of a gentleman, traditionally identified as James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, 1st Duke of Buccleuch (1649–1685) | Portrait | $25,413 | Sotheby's | Dec 2025 |
| 9 | Portrait of a lady, half-length, with a landscape beyond | Oil on canvas | $18,849 | Sotheby's | Sep 2023 |
| 10 | Portrait of Charles Beale (1632-1705), half-length, seated in a brown gown, 1705 | Portrait | $14,865 | Bonhams | Jul 2018 |


**Median price by medium (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 21 | $7,815 |

**Median price by size (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| 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](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


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.

## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## 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.

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Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Mary Beale auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/mary-beale (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.