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

# William Bradford (1823–1892)

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

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 85 auction results for William Bradford at 9 houses since 1992. Over the last 24 months the median price was $60,480 including buyer’s premium (middle half $18,480–$116,840, n=5). The auction record is $1,445,000 for Midnight Sun, The Arctic (2015, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Midnight Sun, The Arctic, 1823 | Oil paint | $1,445,000 | Christie's | May 2015 |
| 2 | The Frigate U.S.S. Congress at Sunset, Possibly Boston Harbor | Oil on board | $457,000 | Skinner (Bonhams Skinner) | Mar 2006 |
| 3 | Arctic Sunset with Rainbow, 1823 | Oil paint | $352,000 | Christie's | May 2005 |
| 4 | Sunset Calm in the Bay of Fundy, 1860 | Oil paint | $321,100 | Christie's | May 2004 |
| 5 | Fishing Off the Coast of Labrador, 1823 | Oil paint | $290,500 | Christie's | Dec 2009 |
| 6 | Among the Ice Floes, 1823 | Oil paint | $288,500 | Christie's | Dec 1998 |
| 7 | Arctic Sunset with the Ice Bound Panther, 1875 | Oil on artist's board | $259,000 | Skinner (Bonhams Skinner) | Nov 2009 |
| 8 | Arctic Sunset with the Ice Bound Panther, 1875 | Oil on artist's board | $259,000 | Skinner (Bonhams Skinner) | Nov 2009 |
| 9 | The Whaleship Speedwell of Fairhaven Outward Bound off Gay Head, 2003 | Oil on canvas | $248,000 | Skinner (Bonhams Skinner) | Mar 2011 |
| 10 | Arctic Whaler Homeward Bound Among the Icebergs, 1823 | Oil paint | $192,000 | Christie's | May 2005 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 65 | $53,775 |
| Works on paper | 8 | $2,548 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 6 | $289,500 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 22 | $51,613 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 49 | $48,000 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 85 results from 9 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


William Bradford is an American artist with 103 auction lots recorded since 1992, median price $48,000. 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 Bradford sold in 2026 for $116,840, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a William Bradford work worth?

Across 83 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Bradford work is $48,000.

The median William Bradford painting sells for $52,500 across 69 lots.

The median William Bradford work on paper sells for $8,188 across 10 lots.

The median William Bradford photograph sells for $120,000 across 3 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) William Bradford paintings typically sell for $18,480–$82,950 (the middle half of 45 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 | $2,121 | $2,121 | 33.3% | 2022-11-29 |
| Paintings | 78 | $52,500†‡ | $1.4M | 88.5% | 2026-06-18 |
| Works on Paper | 11 | $8,188‡ | $71,100 | 90.9% | 2025-01-23 |
| Photography | 3 | $120,000 | $180,000 | — | 2012-10-04 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 18 | $220,000 | $1.4M | — | 2026-01-22 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

William Bradford's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (3 lots) median $2,121 with 33.3% sell-through. Paintings (78 lots) median $52,500, record $1,445,000. A typical William Bradford painting sells for around 25× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 18 lots) the median is $220,000.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 18 | $7,516–$79,654†‡ | $53,888†‡ | $321,100 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 45 | $18,480–$82,950† | $47,880† | $457,000 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 6 | $206,000–$336,625 | $289,500 | $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) | 6 | $1,292–$54,188‡ | $2,548‡ | $71,100 |

‡ 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 | 2015 | $1.4M |
| Paintings | 2006 | $457,000 |
| Photography | 2012 | $180,000 |
| Photography | 2008 | $120,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2010 | $71,100 |
| Works on Paper | 2010 | $71,100 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $2,121 |

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 Bradford worth?

Across 83 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Bradford work is $48,000. The median William Bradford painting sells for $52,500 across 69 lots. The median William Bradford work on paper sells for $8,188 across 10 lots. The median William Bradford photograph sells for $120,000 across 3 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) William Bradford paintings typically sell for $18,480–$82,950 (the middle half of 45 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 Bradford painting?

Based on 69 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Bradford painting is $52,500. 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 William Bradford's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Bradford painting is $1,445,000.

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

Based on 10 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Bradford work on paper is $8,188. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

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

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Bradford work on paper is $71,100.

### What is the average price of a medium William Bradford painting?

Based on 45 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium William Bradford painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $47,880, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is the average price of a small William Bradford painting?

Based on 18 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William Bradford painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $53,888, 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 William Bradford's auction record?

William Bradford's auction record is $1,445,000, set in 2015.

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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 Bradford auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-bradford (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.