Vanessa Bell (1879–1961)
What is Vanessa Bell’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 126 auction results for Vanessa Bell at 13 houses since 1999. Over the last 24 months the median price was $13,161 including buyer’s premium (middle half $3,204–$25,098, n=14). The auction record is $356,597 for Autumn Bouquet (2021, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Autumn Bouquet, 1912 | Oil paint | $356,597 | Christie's | Mar 2021 |
| 2 | Portrait of Virginia Woolf, 1950 | Pencil | $198,251 | Sotheby's | Jun 2022 |
| 3 | Tea Things, 1879 | Painting | $147,310 | Christie's | Dec 2012 |
| 4 | Nursery Tea, 1912 | Oil paint | $132,700 | Christie's | Jun 2006 |
| 5 | Cotton lavender and quinces, 1879 | Oil paint | $101,263 | Christie's | Nov 2000 |
| 6 | Girl by a Tent, 1913 | Oil paint | $96,344 | Christie's | Nov 2018 |
| 7 | Flower Study, 1920 | Oil paint | $95,823 | Christie's | Mar 2023 |
| 8 | Pond from a Window, 1879 | Painting | $86,909 | Bonhams | Jun 2021 |
| 9 | Mauve and Red Tulips, 1927 | Oil paint | $83,767 | Sotheby's | Nov 2025 |
| 10 | Adrian and Virginia Stephen on the Lawn, 1909 | Oil on board | $77,045 | Christie's | Oct 2026 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 74 | $22,023 |
| Other | 9 | $12,640 |
| Works on paper | 25 | $5,588 |
| Prints | 6 | $2,349 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 45 | $22,163 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 60 | $10,669 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 126 results from 13 houses · How we compute these figures
Vanessa Bell is a British (modern) artist with 131 auction lots recorded since 1999, median price $13,438. 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 Vanessa Bell sold in 2026 for $41,091, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
1 Vanessa Bell work is coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Vanessa Bell free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Vanessa Bell record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Vanessa Bell on OpeningBid →What is a Vanessa Bell work worth?
Across 124 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Vanessa Bell work is $13,438.
The median Vanessa Bell painting sells for $19,515 across 75 lots.
The median Vanessa Bell work on paper sells for $4,131 across 27 lots.
The median Vanessa Bell print sells for $1,558 across 9 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Vanessa Bell paintings typically sell for $10,723–$40,395 (the middle half of 42 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Vanessa Bell paintings typically sell for $10,393–$25,434 (the middle half of 33 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 | 10 | $1,558†‡ | $2,665 | 90% | 2026-06-18 |
| Paintings | 75 | $19,515†‡ | $356,597 | — | 2026-10-22 |
| Works on Paper | 28 | $4,131†‡ | $198,251 | 96.4% | 2026-07-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 7 | $132,700 | $356,597 | — | 2023-03-22 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Vanessa Bell's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (10 lots) median $1,558 with 90% sell-through. Paintings (75 lots) median $19,515, record $356,597. A typical Vanessa Bell painting sells for around 13× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 7 lots) the median is $132,700.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 8 | $949–$2,408†‡ | $1,345†‡ | $2,665 |
† 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) | 33 | $10,393–$25,434† | $19,515† | $95,823 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 42 | $10,723–$40,395†‡ | $20,315†‡ | $356,597 |
† 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) | 23 | $2,007–$6,579†‡ | $3,019†‡ | $198,251 |
† 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 | 2021 | $356,597 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $198,251 |
| Paintings | 2012 | $147,310 |
| Works on Paper | 2012 | $52,386 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $2,665 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $2,410 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Vanessa Bell worth?
Across 124 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Vanessa Bell work is $13,438. The median Vanessa Bell painting sells for $19,515 across 75 lots. The median Vanessa Bell work on paper sells for $4,131 across 27 lots. The median Vanessa Bell print sells for $1,558 across 9 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Vanessa Bell paintings typically sell for $10,723–$40,395 (the middle half of 42 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Vanessa Bell paintings typically sell for $10,393–$25,434 (the middle half of 33 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 Vanessa Bell painting?
Based on 75 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Vanessa Bell painting is $19,515. 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 Vanessa Bell's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Vanessa Bell painting is $356,597.
What is the average price of a Vanessa Bell work on paper?
Based on 27 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Vanessa Bell work on paper is $4,131. 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 Vanessa Bell's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Vanessa Bell work on paper is $198,251.
What is the average price of a medium Vanessa Bell painting?
Based on 42 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Vanessa Bell painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $20,315, 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 Vanessa Bell painting?
Based on 33 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Vanessa Bell painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $19,515, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Vanessa Bell's auction record?
Vanessa Bell's auction record is $356,597, set in 2021.
See the full Vanessa Bell record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Vanessa Bell on OpeningBid →