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

# Thomas Gainsborough (1727–1788)

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

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 191 auction results for Thomas Gainsborough at 35 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $49,443 including buyer’s premium (middle half $15,735–$111,556, n=16). The auction record is $1,660,279 for Landscape with Cattle, a young man courting a milkmaid (2007, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Landscape with Cattle, a young man courting a milkmaid | — | $1,660,279 | Sotheby's | Nov 2007 |
| 2 | Portrait of Thomas Brooke (?1755-1820) and Portrait of Sir Richard Brooke, 5th Bt. (1753-1795), 1727 | Oil paint | $1,403,512 | Christie's | Jul 2017 |
| 3 | Portrait of Sir Charles Gould, 1727 | Oil paint | $1,128,699 | Christie's | Jun 2005 |
| 4 | Double portrait of Master John Truman Villebois (c.1773-1837) and his brother Henry Villebois (1777-1847), 1727 | Oil paint | $1,046,335 | Christie's | Jul 2023 |
| 5 | PORTRAIT OF PHILIP DEHANY WITH HIS WIFE MARGARET AND THEIR DAUGHTER MARY, FULL LENGTH, IN AN INTERIOR, 1761 | Portrait | $740,000 | Sotheby's | Jan 2020 |
| 6 | A wooded river landscape with a herdsman driving cattle, sailing boats in the distance | Oil on canvas | $403,114 | Sotheby's | Jul 2023 |
| 7 | Portrait of Admiral George Brydges Rodney, 1st Lord Rodney, 1727 | Oil paint | $338,040 | Christie's | Dec 2022 |
| 8 | Wooded Landscape with Cows, a Drover and Mounted Peasant, and Distant Buildings | Oil on canvas | $330,200 | Sotheby's | Feb 2024 |
| 9 | A wooded landscape with donkeys and figures on a path, 1727 | A wooded landscape with donkeys and figures on a path | $305,553 | Christie's | Jun 2006 |
| 10 | Portrait of Mrs Sloper 'Spiritualised' | Oil on canvas | $305,054 | Sotheby's | Jul 2026 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 45 | $29,844 |
| Other | 61 | $25,099 |
| Works on paper | 22 | $20,375 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 11 | $141,487 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 35 | $29,844 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 69 | $20,857 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 191 results from 35 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Thomas Gainsborough is a British (modern) artist with 220 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $19,392. 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 Gainsborough sold in 2026 for $161,807, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

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

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

## What is a Thomas Gainsborough work worth?

Across 172 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Thomas Gainsborough work is $19,392.

The median Thomas Gainsborough painting sells for $25,517 across 73 lots.

The median Thomas Gainsborough work on paper sells for $14,798 across 75 lots.

The median Thomas Gainsborough print sells for $1,410 across 9 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Thomas Gainsborough work on papers typically sell for $7,038–$30,914 (the middle half of 67 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Thomas Gainsborough paintings typically sell for $780–$80,868 (the middle half of 35 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 | 11 | $1,410†‡ | $8,190 | 81.8% | 2025-06-24 |
| Paintings | 87 | $25,517†‡ | $1.4M | 83.9% | 2026-07-02 |
| Works on Paper | 84 | $14,798†‡ | $224,327 | 89.3% | 2026-07-01 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | — | — | 0% | — |
| Photography | 1 | $135 | $135 | — | 2018-11-03 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 26 | $229,836† | $1.7M | — | 2026-07-02 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Thomas Gainsborough's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (11 lots) median $1,410 with 81.8% sell-through. Paintings (87 lots) median $25,517, record $1,403,512. A typical Thomas Gainsborough painting sells for around 18× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 26 lots) the median is $229,836.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 21 | $500–$56,288†‡ | $13,000†‡ | $305,553 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 35 | $780–$80,868†‡ | $27,124†‡ | $403,114 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 10 | $14,131–$825,203‡ | $93,243‡ | $1.4M |

† 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) | 67 | $7,038–$30,914†‡ | $16,518†‡ | $224,327 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2017 | $1.4M |
| Paintings | 2005 | $1.1M |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $224,327 |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $109,298 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $8,190 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $4,989‡ |
| Photography | 2018 | $135 |

‡ 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 Thomas Gainsborough worth?

Across 172 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Thomas Gainsborough work is $19,392. The median Thomas Gainsborough painting sells for $25,517 across 73 lots. The median Thomas Gainsborough work on paper sells for $14,798 across 75 lots. The median Thomas Gainsborough print sells for $1,410 across 9 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Thomas Gainsborough work on papers typically sell for $7,038–$30,914 (the middle half of 67 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Thomas Gainsborough paintings typically sell for $780–$80,868 (the middle half of 35 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 Gainsborough painting?

Based on 73 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Thomas Gainsborough painting is $25,517. 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 Gainsborough's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Thomas Gainsborough painting is $1,403,512.

### What is the average price of a Thomas Gainsborough work on paper?

Based on 75 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Thomas Gainsborough work on paper is $14,798. 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 Gainsborough's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Thomas Gainsborough work on paper is $224,327.

### What is the average price of a Thomas Gainsborough print?

Based on 9 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Thomas Gainsborough print is $1,410. 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 Gainsborough's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Thomas Gainsborough print is $8,190.

### What is the average price of a small Thomas Gainsborough work on paper?

Based on 67 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Thomas Gainsborough work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $16,518, 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 medium Thomas Gainsborough painting?

Based on 35 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Thomas Gainsborough painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $27,124, 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 Gainsborough's auction record?

Thomas Gainsborough's auction record is $1,403,512, set in 2017.

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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 Gainsborough auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/thomas-gainsborough (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.