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

# Richard Cosway (1742–1821)

## What is Richard Cosway’s work worth? {#value}

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 98 auction results for Richard Cosway at 28 houses since 2000. Over the last 24 months the median price was $366 including buyer’s premium (middle half $314–$2,520, n=9). The auction record is $102,658 for Portrait of Maria Fitzherbert (2019, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portrait of Maria Fitzherbert, 1742 | Pencil with touches of rose and ochre wash | $102,658 | Christie's | Jul 2019 |
| 2 | Self-portrait, 1800 | Pencil heightened with watercolour on laid paper, original mount | $51,889 | Sotheby's | Jul 2020 |
| 3 | Portrait of Maria Cosway, 1742 | Pencil | $42,289 | Christie's | Jul 2022 |
| 4 | Portrait of Mrs J.P. Fector, with her two children, Peter and Mary, in an interior, 1821 | Portrait | $40,230 | Bonhams | Dec 2012 |
| 5 | Mary Amelia ‘Emily Mary’, 1st Marchioness of Salisbury, née Cecil in white dress, wearing a blue ribbon around her neck, possibly a house order, suspended with a locket, 1788 | On ivory | $18,168 | Christie's | Jul 2018 |
| 6 | Portrait de Lady Theodosia Cradock (1773-1853) debout tenant son châle, 1742 | Graphite et aquarelle | $14,457 | Christie's | Jun 2022 |
| 7 | General Sir Robert Sloper, K.B. (1729-1802), Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in India, in uniform, wearing the sash and breast-star of the Order of Bath, 1742 | On ivory | $13,445 | Christie's | May 2019 |
| 8 | Portrait of Maria Cosway, three-quarter-length, leaning on a table, 1821 | Colour on paper | $11,683 | Bonhams | Apr 2017 |
| 9 | Self-Portrait of the artist with his wife Maria Cosway in 17th Century dress, seated under a tree with book and lute, mid-1780s | Red chalk | $11,430 | Christie's | Feb 2026 |
| 10 | Elizabeth, Countess of Derby, née Farren, 1742 | On ivory | $11,072 | Christie's | May 2019 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 30 | $2,587 |
| Works on paper | 34 | $1,694 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 64 | $1,727 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 98 results from 28 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Richard Cosway is a British (modern) artist with 115 auction lots recorded since 2000, median price $1,622. 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 Richard Cosway sold in 2026 for $2,071, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Richard Cosway work worth?

Across 86 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Richard Cosway work is $1,622.

The median Richard Cosway work on paper sells for $1,132 across 55 lots.

The median Richard Cosway painting sells for $1,727 across 19 lots.

The median Richard Cosway print sells for $879 across 2 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Richard Cosway work on papers typically sell for $381–$2,507 (the middle half of 54 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 | 3 | $879‡ | $1,498 | 66.7% | 2026-03-03 |
| Paintings | 20 | $1,727†‡ | $51,889 | 95% | 2026-06-10 |
| Works on Paper | 73 | $1,132†‡ | $102,658 | 75.3% | 2026-05-19 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 5 | $42,289 | $102,658 | — | 2022-07-05 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

Richard Cosway's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (3 lots) median $879 with 66.7% sell-through. Paintings (20 lots) median $1,727, record $51,889. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 5 lots) the median is $42,289.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 17 | $863–$2,872 | $1,727 | $51,889 |

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 54 | $381–$2,507†‡ | $1,105†‡ | $102,658 |

† 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 | 2019 | $102,658 |
| Paintings | 2020 | $51,889 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $42,289 |
| Paintings | 2019 | $13,445 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $1,498 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $259‡ |

‡ 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 Richard Cosway worth?

Across 86 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Richard Cosway work is $1,622. The median Richard Cosway work on paper sells for $1,132 across 55 lots. The median Richard Cosway painting sells for $1,727 across 19 lots. The median Richard Cosway print sells for $879 across 2 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Richard Cosway work on papers typically sell for $381–$2,507 (the middle half of 54 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 Richard Cosway work on paper?

Based on 55 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Richard Cosway work on paper is $1,132. 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 Richard Cosway's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Richard Cosway work on paper is $102,658.

### What is the average price of a Richard Cosway painting?

Based on 19 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Richard Cosway painting is $1,727. 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 Richard Cosway's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Richard Cosway painting is $51,889.

### What is the average price of a small Richard Cosway work on paper?

Based on 54 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Richard Cosway work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,105, 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 the average price of a small Richard Cosway painting?

Based on 17 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Richard Cosway painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,727, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is Richard Cosway's auction record?

Richard Cosway's auction record is $102,658, set in 2019.

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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, “Richard Cosway auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/richard-cosway (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.