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

# William Etty

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

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 118 auction results for William Etty at 25 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $2,560 including buyer’s premium (middle half $279–$6,885, n=5). The auction record is $64,861 for Venus and her Satellites (2020, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Venus and her Satellites | Oil on mahogany panel | $64,861 | Sotheby's | Jul 2020 |
| 2 | A bacchanalian revel, 1787 | Oil paint | $62,636 | Christie's | Nov 2009 |
| 3 | Ariadne | Oil on millboard | $56,754 | Sotheby's | Jul 2020 |
| 4 | VENUS AND CUPID IN A LANDSCAPE | Oil on board, laid on card | $56,754 | Sotheby's | Jul 2020 |
| 5 | Ariadne; verso: Study of a seated female nude | Oil on millboard | $49,867 | Sotheby's | Dec 2021 |
| 6 | A Bacchanalian Revel | Oil on canvas | $46,225 | Sotheby's | May 2020 |
| 7 | Pluto carrying off Proserpine, 1787 | Oil paint | $36,472 | Christie's | Jul 2018 |
| 8 | RECLINING FEMALE NUDE IN AN INTERIOR | Oil on canvas | $35,674 | Sotheby's | Jul 2020 |
| 9 | Head of Milroy | Oil on millboard | $25,968 | Christie's | Sep 2016 |
| 10 | Venus relieving Cupid of his bow (or 'Venus disarming Cupid') | Oil on panel | $24,653 | Sotheby's | May 2020 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 63 | $8,202 |
| Other | 8 | $5,041 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 47 | $8,108 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 20 | $3,761 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 118 results from 25 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


William Etty is a British (modern) artist with 140 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $3,993. 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 Etty sold in 2025 for $6,885, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

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

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

## What is a William Etty work worth?

Across 109 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Etty work is $3,993.

The median William Etty painting sells for $4,276 across 102 lots.

The median William Etty work on paper sells for $722 across 9 lots.

The median William Etty sculpture sells for $112 across 1 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) William Etty paintings typically sell for $1,909–$11,500 (the middle half of 65 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) William Etty paintings typically sell for $945–$4,314 (the middle half of 29 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 120 | $4,276†‡ | $64,861 | 85% | 2026-06-30 |
| Works on Paper | 9 | $722† | $8,114 | — | 2026-05-19 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 3 | $112‡ | $112‡ | 33.3% | 2017-01-14 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 6 | $56,754 | $64,861 | — | 2021-12-09 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 29 | $945–$4,314†‡ | $2,600†‡ | $25,968 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 65 | $1,909–$11,500†‡ | $5,171†‡ | $64,861 |

† 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 | $279–$646† | $348† | $3,959 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2020 | $64,861 |
| Paintings | 2009 | $62,636 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $8,114 |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $6,123 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2017 | $112‡ |

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

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 Etty worth?

Across 109 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Etty work is $3,993. The median William Etty painting sells for $4,276 across 102 lots. The median William Etty work on paper sells for $722 across 9 lots. The median William Etty sculpture sells for $112 across 1 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) William Etty paintings typically sell for $1,909–$11,500 (the middle half of 65 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) William Etty paintings typically sell for $945–$4,314 (the middle half of 29 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 Etty painting?

Based on 102 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Etty painting is $4,276. 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 Etty's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Etty painting is $64,861.

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

Based on 65 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium William Etty painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $5,171, 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 Etty painting?

Based on 29 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William Etty painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,600, 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 Etty's auction record?

William Etty's auction record is $64,861, set in 2020.

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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 Etty auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-etty (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.