Wen Zhengming (1470–1559)
What is Wen Zhengming’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 689 auction results for Wen Zhengming at 37 houses since 1995. Over the last 24 months the median price was $25,701 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,583–$78,456, n=49). The auction record is $10,602,868 for Poems in Large Running Script (2019, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poems in Large Running Script | Ink | $10,602,868 | Christie's | May 2019 |
| 2 | Fu Di Poems in Running Cursive Script, 1823 | Ink | $3,449,080 | Christie's | Dec 2022 |
| 3 | Seven Poems in Running Script | Ink | $2,351,186 | Christie's | May 2021 |
| 4 | Twelve Views of Wuzhong | 设色纸本 | $1,807,041 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Jun 2012 |
| 5 | Poems in Cursive Script, 1744 | Ink | $1,286,903 | Christie's | Dec 2023 |
| 6 | Two Verses in Running Script | Ink | $1,249,722 | Christie's | May 2022 |
| 7 | Poems in Cursive Script Calligraphy, 1879 | Ink | $1,006,936 | Christie's | May 2018 |
| 8 | Ten Thousand Miles of the Yangtze River | Ink and colour on paper, handscroll | $972,948 | Sotheby's | Oct 2023 |
| 9 | Yueyang Tower, 1553 | Ink on paper | $969,271 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Jun 2021 |
| 10 | Landscapes | Burlap | $787,500 | Christie's | Mar 2017 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 112 | $63,236 |
| Other | 110 | $16,231 |
| Paintings | 11 | $3,559 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 73 | $77,299 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 64 | $32,556 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 49 | $23,940 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 689 results from 37 houses · How we compute these figures
Wen Zhengming is a Chinese artist with 968 auction lots recorded since 1995, median price $19,262. 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 Wen Zhengming sold in 2026 for $33,128, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
1 Wen Zhengming work is coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Wen Zhengming free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Wen Zhengming record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Wen Zhengming on OpeningBid →What is a Wen Zhengming work worth?
Across 689 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Wen Zhengming work is $19,262.
The median Wen Zhengming work on paper sells for $32,677 across 306 lots.
The median Wen Zhengming painting sells for $9,756 across 44 lots.
The median Wen Zhengming print sells for $1,546 across 3 lots.
Large (over 120 cm) Wen Zhengming work on papers typically sell for $13,780–$455,970 (the middle half of 104 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Wen Zhengming work on papers typically sell for $2,828–$46,585 (the middle half of 86 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 | 3 | $1,546‡ | $2,909‡ | — | 2023-04-24 |
| Paintings | 52 | $9,756‡ | $929,139‡ | 84.6% | 2026-06-16 |
| Works on Paper | 329 | $32,677†‡ | $12.6M‡ | 93% | 2026-10-27 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | — | — | — | 2011-07-19 |
| Photography | 1 | — | — | — | 2020-11-30 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 127 | $318,491‡ | $12.8M‡ | — | 2025-10-28 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Wen Zhengming's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (3 lots) median $1,546. Paintings (52 lots) median $9,756, record $929,139. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified. A typical Wen Zhengming painting sells for around 6.3× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 127 lots) the median is $318,491.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 13 | $3,832–$19,262‡ | $7,122‡ | $787,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 14 | $2,176–$57,456‡ | $12,515‡ | $929,139‡ |
‡ 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) | 86 | $2,828–$46,585†‡ | $11,197†‡ | $321,730 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 85 | $6,323–$149,895‡ | $34,192‡ | $1.1M‡ |
| large (over 120 cm) | 104 | $13,780–$455,970‡ | $75,081‡ | $12.7M |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2015 | $12.7M |
| Works on Paper | 2019 | $10.6M |
| Paintings | 2021 | $929,139‡ |
| Paintings | 2017 | $795,241‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $2,909‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2018 | $183‡ |
‡ 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 Wen Zhengming worth?
Across 689 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Wen Zhengming work is $19,262. The median Wen Zhengming work on paper sells for $32,677 across 306 lots. The median Wen Zhengming painting sells for $9,756 across 44 lots. The median Wen Zhengming print sells for $1,546 across 3 lots. Large (over 120 cm) Wen Zhengming work on papers typically sell for $13,780–$455,970 (the middle half of 104 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Wen Zhengming work on papers typically sell for $2,828–$46,585 (the middle half of 86 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 Wen Zhengming work on paper?
Based on 306 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Wen Zhengming work on paper is $32,677. 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 Wen Zhengming's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Wen Zhengming work on paper is $12,589,565. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
What is the average price of a Wen Zhengming painting?
Based on 44 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Wen Zhengming painting is $9,756. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Wen Zhengming's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Wen Zhengming painting is $929,139. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
What is the average price of a large Wen Zhengming work on paper?
Based on 104 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Wen Zhengming work on paper (large (over 120 cm)) is $75,081, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is the average price of a small Wen Zhengming work on paper?
Based on 86 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Wen Zhengming work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $11,197, 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 Wen Zhengming's auction record?
Wen Zhengming's auction record is $12,791,117, set in 2018. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
See the full Wen Zhengming record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Wen Zhengming on OpeningBid →