Robert Barnes (b. 1934)
What is Robert Barnes’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 27 auction results for Robert Barnes at 12 houses since 2012. Over the last 24 months the median price was $578 including buyer’s premium (middle half $393–$3,254, n=7). The auction record is $4,826 for A Performance at Williams (2025, Wright). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Performance at Williams, 1976 | Painting | $4,826 | Wright | Feb 2025 |
| 2 | A Performance at Williams, 1976 | Oil on canvas | $4,826 | Toomey & Co. | Feb 2025 |
| 3 | Interior, 1956 | Painting | $4,000 | Rago Arts | Jul 2022 |
| 4 | Racing Cycle, 1994 | Oil on canvas | $3,054 | Shapiro Auctioneers | Nov 2012 |
| 5 | Elba | Oil on canvas | $2,500 | Freeman's Hindman | Dec 2016 |
| 6 | Robert Barnes (1840-1895) Freshly baked bread | Watercolour heightened with white | $1,724 | Woolley and Wallis | Mar 2023 |
| 7 | Table and Tea, 1993 | Oil on canvas | $1,682 | Lawsons Auctioneers | Jun 2026 |
| 8 | Aphrodite's Enchanted Isle | Oil on canvas | $1,250 | Freeman's Hindman | Feb 2021 |
| 9 | Catch of the Day, 2001 | Alkyd on paper | $1,250 | Freeman's Hindman | Sep 2015 |
| 10 | Jealousy, 1992 | Alkyd on panel | $1,250 | Freeman's Hindman | Sep 2015 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 11 | $1,682 |
| Works on paper | 5 | $937 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $1,125 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 7 | $937 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 27 results from 12 houses · How we compute these figures
Robert Barnes is an American artist with 36 auction lots recorded since 2003, median price $1,000. 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 Robert Barnes sold in 2026 for $1,682, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Robert Barnes record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Robert Barnes on OpeningBid →What is a Robert Barnes work worth?
Across 23 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Robert Barnes work is $1,000.
The median Robert Barnes painting sells for $578 across 11 lots.
The median Robert Barnes work on paper sells for $6,460 across 2 lots.
The median Robert Barnes print sells for $227 across 2 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 | 2 | $227‡ | $430 | — | 2026-07-01 |
| Paintings | 17 | $578† | $4,826 | 64.7% | 2026-06-15 |
| Works on Paper | 6 | $6,460‡ | $12,563‡ | 33.3% | 2025-07-09 |
| Photography | 1 | — | — | 0% | — |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 3 | $4,826‡ | $12,563‡ | — | 2025-02-20 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Robert Barnes's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (2 lots) median $227. Paintings (17 lots) median $578, record $4,826. A typical Robert Barnes painting sells for around 2.5× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 3 lots) the median is $4,826.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $245–$450† | $352† | $4,826 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2014 | $12,563‡ |
| Paintings | 2025 | $4,826 |
| Paintings | 2022 | $4,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $430 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $356 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $24‡ |
‡ 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 Robert Barnes worth?
Across 23 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Robert Barnes work is $1,000. The median Robert Barnes painting sells for $578 across 11 lots. The median Robert Barnes work on paper sells for $6,460 across 2 lots. The median Robert Barnes print sells for $227 across 2 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 Robert Barnes painting?
Based on 11 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Robert Barnes painting is $578. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Robert Barnes's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Robert Barnes painting is $4,826.
What is Robert Barnes's auction record?
Robert Barnes's auction record is $12,563, set in 2014. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
See the full Robert Barnes record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Robert Barnes on OpeningBid →