> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/mattia-preti · updated 2026-11-03

# Mattia Preti (1613–1699)

## What is Mattia Preti’s work worth? {#value}

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 47 auction results for Mattia Preti at 18 houses since 1995. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,212,905 including buyer’s premium (middle half $267,025–$1,502,000, n=5). The auction record is $2,169,000 for David Playing the Harp Before Saul (2008, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Playing the Harp Before Saul | Oil on canvas | $2,169,000 | Sotheby's | Jan 2008 |
| 2 | Recto: Study for the Figure of Adrian Fortescue; Verso: Study for the Figure of Juan d'Eguaras | ; and in red chalk in a cartouche on a piece of paper formerly attached to the | $1,758,000 | Sotheby's | Feb 2026 |
| 3 | The Liberation of Saint Peter | Oil paint | $1,502,000 | Christie's | Feb 2025 |
| 4 | BOETHIUS AND PHILOSOPHY | Oil paint | $1,460,000 | Sotheby's | Jan 2020 |
| 5 | Samuel anointing David | Oil paint | $1,212,905 | Christie's | Jul 2025 |
| 6 | Man cutting a block of tobacco with another figure smoking a pipe behind | Oil paint | $1,134,000 | Sotheby's | Jan 2023 |
| 7 | Saints Vincent Ferrer, Peter Martyr and Raymond of Peñafort | Oil paint | $728,032 | Christie's | Dec 2023 |
| 8 | Joseph and Potiphar's Wife | Oil paint | $403,200 | Christie's | Jan 2024 |
| 9 | Noli me tangere | Olio su tela | $267,025 | Finarte Casa d'Aste | May 2025 |
| 10 | Le retour du fils prodigue, 1994 | Painting | $172,992 | Artcurial | Mar 2015 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 22 | $99,963 |
| Other | 7 | $20,160 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 16 | $120,768 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 6 | $23,371 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $11,830 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 47 results from 18 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Mattia Preti is an Italian artist with 79 auction lots recorded since 1990, median price $44,371. 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 Mattia Preti sold in 2026 for $1,758,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Mattia Preti work worth?

Across 45 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Mattia Preti work is $44,371.

The median Mattia Preti painting sells for $48,378 across 32 lots.

The median Mattia Preti work on paper sells for $3,172 across 8 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 | 38 | $48,378†‡ | $1.5M | 84.2% | 2026-06-25 |
| Works on Paper | 8 | $3,172‡ | $1.8M | — | 2026-02-04 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 13 | $728,032 | $2.2M | — | 2026-02-04 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 9 | $7,505–$23,629† | $19,476† | $1.1M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 17 | $32,760–$403,200†‡ | $91,750†‡ | $1.5M |

† 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) | 8 | $1,292–$39,995‡ | $3,172‡ | $1.8M |

‡ 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 | 2026 | $1.8M |
| Paintings | 2025 | $1.5M |
| Paintings | 2020 | $1.5M |
| Works on Paper | 2001 | $99,500 |

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 Mattia Preti worth?

Across 45 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Mattia Preti work is $44,371. The median Mattia Preti painting sells for $48,378 across 32 lots. The median Mattia Preti work on paper sells for $3,172 across 8 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 Mattia Preti painting?

Based on 32 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Mattia Preti painting is $48,378. 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 Mattia Preti's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Mattia Preti painting is $1,502,000.

### What is the average price of a large Mattia Preti painting?

Based on 17 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Mattia Preti painting (large (over 120 cm)) is $91,750, 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 Mattia Preti's auction record?

Mattia Preti's auction record is $2,169,000, set in 2008.

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Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Mattia Preti auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/mattia-preti (updated 2026-11-03).

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.