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

# Thomas Eakins (1844–1916)

## What is Thomas Eakins’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 74 auction results for Thomas Eakins at 9 houses since 1994. Over the last 24 months the median price was $19,050 including buyer’s premium (middle half $12,900–$20,565, n=7). The auction record is $5,383,500 for Cowboys in the Badlands (2003, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cowboys in the Badlands, 1844 | Oil paint | $5,383,500 | Christie's | May 2003 |
| 2 | Rear Admiral Charles Dwight Sigsbee | Oil on canvas | $1,945,000 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |
| 3 | The Model | Oil on canvas | $1,273,000 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |
| 4 | Portrait of Dr. Joseph Leidy, II, 1890 | Oil paint | $352,800 | Sotheby's | Sep 2019 |
| 5 | Robert C. Ogden, 1844 | Oil paint | $338,500 | Christie's | May 2009 |
| 6 | Untitled (Male Nudes Boxing) | Photograph | $327,600 | Sotheby's | Apr 2022 |
| 7 | Major Manuel Waldteufel, 1844 | Oil paint | $289,000 | Christie's | May 2008 |
| 8 | Portrait of Thomas J. Eagan, 1844 | Oil paint | $266,500 | Christie's | May 1998 |
| 9 | James A. Flaherty, 1903 | Oil paint | $185,000 | Christie's | May 2016 |
| 10 | Study for "William Rush and his Model", 1908 | Oil paint | $122,500 | Christie's | May 2009 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 11 | $51,750 |
| Paintings | 19 | $30,000 |
| Photographs | 26 | $5,615 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 14 | $42,937 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 34 | $7,027 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 74 results from 9 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Thomas Eakins is an American artist with 97 auction lots recorded since 1994, median price $16,419. 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 Thomas Eakins sold in 2026 for $19,200, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**1 Thomas Eakins work is coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Thomas Eakins on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/thomas-eakins?ref=kg:thomas-eakins) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Thomas Eakins work worth?

Across 74 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Thomas Eakins work is $16,419.

The median Thomas Eakins painting sells for $35,875 across 31 lots.

The median Thomas Eakins photograph sells for $5,615 across 28 lots.

The median Thomas Eakins work on paper sells for $11,250 across 6 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Thomas Eakins photographs typically sell for $3,968–$12,500 (the middle half of 20 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 | 2 | $3,450 | $3,450 | 50% | 1999-10-07 |
| Paintings | 35 | $35,875†‡ | $5.4M | 88.6% | 2026-10-09 |
| Works on Paper | 6 | $11,250 | $50,000 | — | 2021-06-30 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 5 | $20,241 | $35,935 | 80% | 2011-05-18 |
| Photography | 35 | $5,615 | $327,600 | 80% | 2026-02-12 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 17 | $266,500 | $5.4M | — | 2022-04-13 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Thomas Eakins's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (2 lots) median $3,450 with 50% sell-through. Paintings (35 lots) median $35,875, record $5,383,500. A typical Thomas Eakins painting sells for around 10× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 17 lots) the median is $266,500.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 11 | $19,050–$47,292 | $25,000 | $209,976 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 18 | $22,898–$169,375†‡ | $34,187†‡ | $5.4M |

† 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) | 5 | $4,830–$16,250 | $6,250 | $16,250 |

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 20 | $3,968–$12,500 | $5,750 | $327,600 |

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2003 | $5.4M |
| Paintings | 2019 | $352,800 |
| Photography | 2022 | $327,600 |
| Photography | 1998 | $178,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2008 | $50,000 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2003 | $35,935 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2011 | $24,233 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $16,250 |

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 Thomas Eakins worth?

Across 74 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Thomas Eakins work is $16,419. The median Thomas Eakins painting sells for $35,875 across 31 lots. The median Thomas Eakins photograph sells for $5,615 across 28 lots. The median Thomas Eakins work on paper sells for $11,250 across 6 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Thomas Eakins photographs typically sell for $3,968–$12,500 (the middle half of 20 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 Thomas Eakins painting?

Based on 31 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Thomas Eakins painting is $35,875. 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 Thomas Eakins's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Thomas Eakins painting is $5,383,500.

### What is the average price of a Thomas Eakins photograph?

Based on 28 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Thomas Eakins photograph is $5,615.

### What is Thomas Eakins's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Thomas Eakins photograph is $327,600.

### What is the average price of a small Thomas Eakins photograph?

Based on 20 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Thomas Eakins photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $5,750, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is the average price of a medium Thomas Eakins painting?

Based on 18 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Thomas Eakins painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $34,187, 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 Thomas Eakins's auction record?

Thomas Eakins's auction record is $5,383,500, set in 2003.

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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, “Thomas Eakins auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/thomas-eakins (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.