Thomas Hart Benton (1889–1975)
What is Thomas Hart Benton’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 2,035 auction results for Thomas Hart Benton at 45 houses since 1988. Over the last 24 months the median price was $2,860 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,792–$6,496, n=84). The auction record is $5,580,000 for Nashaquitsa (2022, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashaquitsa, 1953 | Oil paint | $5,580,000 | Christie's | Nov 2022 |
| 2 | Ozark Autumn, 1889 | Oil paint | $4,869,000 | Christie's | May 2015 |
| 3 | Keith Farm, Chilmark, 1955 | Oil paint | $4,830,000 | Christie's | Nov 2021 |
| 4 | Spring Ploughing, 1940 | Oil paint | $2,940,000 | Christie's | Nov 2022 |
| 5 | Navajo Sand, 1926 | Tempera | $2,652,500 | Christie's | May 2018 |
| 6 | Night Firing of Tobacco, 1943 | Oil paint | $2,652,500 | Christie's | Nov 2017 |
| 7 | Instruction (The Bible Lesson), 1940 | Tempera | $2,490,000 | Sotheby's | May 2025 |
| 8 | Current River, Missouri Ozarks, 1961 | Oil paint | $2,349,000 | Christie's | Nov 2024 |
| 9 | White Horse, 1955 | Oil paint | $2,228,000 | Christie's | Apr 2024 |
| 10 | Evening Concert, 1952 | Oil paint | $1,623,000 | Christie's | Nov 2023 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 62 | $123,350 |
| Works on paper | 74 | $7,750 |
| Prints | 1,356 | $2,480 |
| Other | 103 | $2,400 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 73 | $18,900 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 1,410 | $2,515 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 2,035 results from 45 houses · How we compute these figures
Thomas Hart Benton is an American artist with 2,181 auction lots recorded since 1988, median price $2,640. 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 Hart Benton sold in 2026 for $4,123, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
12 Thomas Hart Benton works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Thomas Hart Benton free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Thomas Hart Benton record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Thomas Hart Benton on OpeningBid →What is a Thomas Hart Benton work worth?
Across 1,926 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Thomas Hart Benton work is $2,640.
The median Thomas Hart Benton print sells for $2,500 across 1,587 lots.
The median Thomas Hart Benton work on paper sells for $3,100 across 205 lots.
The median Thomas Hart Benton painting sells for $121,100 across 72 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Thomas Hart Benton prints typically sell for $1,763–$3,800 (the middle half of 1,435 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Thomas Hart Benton work on papers typically sell for $1,600–$6,875 (the middle half of 181 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 | 1,690 | $2,500†‡ | $77,675 | 93.9% | 2026-10-29 |
| Paintings | 77 | $121,100† | $5.6M | 93.5% | 2026-04-23 |
| Works on Paper | 217 | $3,100†‡ | $500,000† | 94.5% | 2026-10-09 |
| Photography | 3 | $1,875 | $3,360 | — | 2018-11-01 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 102 | $111,500† | $5.6M | — | 2026-04-23 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Thomas Hart Benton's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (1,690 lots) median $2,500 with 93.9% sell-through. Paintings (77 lots) median $121,100, record $5,580,000. A typical Thomas Hart Benton painting sells for around 48× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 102 lots) the median is $111,500.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 1,435 | $1,763–$3,800†‡ | $2,489†‡ | $37,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 42 | $4,125–$11,188†‡ | $7,149†‡ | $77,675 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 44 | $35,070–$130,875† | $70,225† | $529,200 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 27 | $233,450–$2.4M† | $1.3M† | $5.6M |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 181 | $1,600–$6,875†‡ | $3,000†‡ | $457,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 17 | $10,350–$112,500† | $40,000† | $500,000† |
† 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 | 2022 | $5.6M |
| Paintings | 2015 | $4.9M |
| Works on Paper | 2015 | $500,000† |
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $457,500 |
| Prints & Editions | 2003 | $77,675 |
| Prints & Editions | 2016 | $42,500 |
| Photography | 2008 | $3,360 |
| Photography | 2018 | $1,875 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Thomas Hart Benton worth?
Across 1,926 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Thomas Hart Benton work is $2,640. The median Thomas Hart Benton print sells for $2,500 across 1,587 lots. The median Thomas Hart Benton work on paper sells for $3,100 across 205 lots. The median Thomas Hart Benton painting sells for $121,100 across 72 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Thomas Hart Benton prints typically sell for $1,763–$3,800 (the middle half of 1,435 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Thomas Hart Benton work on papers typically sell for $1,600–$6,875 (the middle half of 181 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 Hart Benton print?
Based on 1,587 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Thomas Hart Benton print is $2,500. 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 Hart Benton's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Thomas Hart Benton print is $77,675.
What is the average price of a Thomas Hart Benton work on paper?
Based on 205 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Thomas Hart Benton work on paper is $3,100. 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 Hart Benton's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Thomas Hart Benton work on paper is $500,000. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $500,000 (buyer's premium not included).
What is the average price of a Thomas Hart Benton painting?
Based on 72 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Thomas Hart Benton painting is $121,100. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Thomas Hart Benton's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Thomas Hart Benton painting is $5,580,000.
What is the average price of a small Thomas Hart Benton print?
Based on 1,435 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Thomas Hart Benton print (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,489, 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 Thomas Hart Benton work on paper?
Based on 181 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Thomas Hart Benton work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $3,000, 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 Hart Benton's auction record?
Thomas Hart Benton's auction record is $5,580,000, set in 2022.
See the full Thomas Hart Benton record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Thomas Hart Benton on OpeningBid →