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

# William Blake (1757–1827)

## What is William Blake’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 174 auction results for William Blake at 21 houses since 1992. Over the last 24 months the median price was $81,900 including buyer’s premium (middle half $26,460–$312,139, n=27). The auction record is $1,865,000 for Songs of Experience (2025, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Songs of Experience, 1757 | With uncut sheets and its original buff paper wrappers, as it would have left Blake’s hands | $1,865,000 | Christie's | Jun 2025 |
| 2 | Songs of Innocence, 1757 | ·21 plates printed in green ink and hand-colored by William Blake and his wife Catherine in distinctive, delicate pastels; the only green ink copy in private hands | $1,260,000 | Christie's | Jun 2025 |
| 3 | The Grave: The Reunion of the Soul and the Body, 1757 | Pencil | $952,500 | Christie's | Feb 2026 |
| 4 | The Grave: The soul hovering over the body reluctantly parting with life | Pencil, pen and black ink and watercolour on paper | $671,651 | Christie's | Jun 2026 |
| 5 | The Grave: Death's Door | Pencil, pen and black ink and watercolour on paper | $587,695 | Christie's | Jun 2026 |
| 6 | St. Paul Shaking off the Viper, 1793 | Watercolour | $433,726 | Sotheby's | Jul 2025 |
| 7 | Oberon and Titania on a Lily, 1757 | Paper | $320,000 | Christie's | Jun 2025 |
| 8 | The Tyger, from: Songs of Experience, 1793 | The design printed in colours, the text printed in pale green, finished by hand with watercolour | $304,278 | Christie's | Dec 2025 |
| 9 | The Death of Ezekiel’s Wife, 1785 | Pen and black ink with black and grey washes over pencil, heightened with scratching out | $289,800 | Sotheby's | Jan 2021 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Enoch, 1757 | , a made up paper loss in the upper subject, a short repaired tear and pale stain upper right, otherwise in good condition | $330,687 | Christie's | Dec 2012 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 21 | $118,330 |
| Other | 15 | $12,389 |
| Prints | 121 | $3,250 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 9 | $7,089 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 123 | $3,800 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 174 results from 21 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


William Blake is a British (modern) artist with 201 auction lots recorded since 1992, median price $4,108. 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 William Blake sold in 2026 for $671,651, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

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

- [William Blake on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-blake?ref=kg:william-blake) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a William Blake work worth?

Across 168 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Blake work is $4,108.

The median William Blake print sells for $3,250 across 128 lots.

The median William Blake work on paper sells for $38,786 across 18 lots.

The median William Blake painting sells for $817 across 5 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) William Blake prints typically sell for $1,879–$6,562 (the middle half of 108 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 | 142 | $3,250†‡ | $1.3M | 90.1% | 2026-10-29 |
| Paintings | 5 | $817†‡ | $433,726 | — | 2025-07-02 |
| Works on Paper | 19 | $38,786 | $1.9M | 94.7% | 2026-06-30 |
| Photography | 4 | $55,344 | $105,895 | — | 2020-03-11 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 25 | $185,101‡ | $1.9M | — | 2026-06-30 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

William Blake's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (142 lots) median $3,250 with 90.1% sell-through. Paintings (5 lots) median $817, record $433,726. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 25 lots) the median is $185,101.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 108 | $1,879–$6,562†‡ | $3,160†‡ | $330,687 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 7 | $4,270–$9,476 | $5,400 | $23,369 |

† 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) | 16 | $16,494–$212,300 | $38,786 | $952,500 |

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $1.9M |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $1.3M |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $952,500 |
| Paintings | 2025 | $433,726 |
| Prints & Editions | 2012 | $330,687 |
| Photography | 2014 | $105,895 |
| Photography | 2015 | $64,094 |
| Paintings | 2021 | $37,800 |

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 William Blake worth?

Across 168 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Blake work is $4,108. The median William Blake print sells for $3,250 across 128 lots. The median William Blake work on paper sells for $38,786 across 18 lots. The median William Blake painting sells for $817 across 5 lots. Small (under 50 cm) William Blake prints typically sell for $1,879–$6,562 (the middle half of 108 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 William Blake print?

Based on 128 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Blake print is $3,250. 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 William Blake's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Blake print is $1,260,000.

### What is the average price of a William Blake work on paper?

Based on 18 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Blake work on paper is $38,786.

### What is William Blake's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Blake work on paper is $1,865,000.

### What is the average price of a small William Blake print?

Based on 108 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William Blake print (small (under 50 cm)) is $3,160, 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 William Blake work on paper?

Based on 16 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William Blake work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $38,786, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is William Blake's auction record?

William Blake's auction record is $1,865,000, set in 2025.

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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, “William Blake auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-blake (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.