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

# William J. Forsyth (1854–1935)

William J. Forsyth is an American artist with 168 auction lots recorded since 2001, median price $950. 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 J. Forsyth sold in 2026 for a hammer price of $6,000 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a William J. Forsyth work worth?

Across 145 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William J. Forsyth work is $950.

The median William J. Forsyth work on paper sells for $650 across 71 lots.

The median William J. Forsyth painting sells for $2,500 across 60 lots.

The median William J. Forsyth print sells for $302 across 8 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) William J. Forsyth work on papers typically sell for $450–$900 (the middle half of 60 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) William J. Forsyth paintings typically sell for $1,800–$4,950 (the middle half of 47 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 | 8 | $302† | $950† | — | 2024-11-09 |
| Paintings | 67 | $2,500†‡ | $16,000† | 89.6% | 2026-05-03 |
| Works on Paper | 87 | $650† | $3,000† | 81.6% | 2026-05-03 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 9 | $10,000† | $16,000† | — | 2026-05-03 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

William J. Forsyth's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (8 lots) median $302. Paintings (67 lots) median $2,500, record $16,000. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $16,000 (buyer's premium not included). A typical William J. Forsyth painting sells for around 8.3× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 9 lots) the median is $10,000.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 8 | $201–$419† | $302† | $950† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 13 | $1,400–$2,100† | $1,750† | $10,000† |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 47 | $1,800–$4,950†‡ | $2,750†‡ | $16,000† |

† 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) | 60 | $450–$900† | $600† | $3,000† |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 11 | $800–$2,185† | $1,610† | $2,937 |

† 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 | 2018 | $16,000† |
| Paintings | 2006 | $11,750 |
| Works on Paper | 2019 | $3,000† |
| Works on Paper | 2006 | $2,937 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $950† |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $625† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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 J. Forsyth worth?

Across 145 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William J. Forsyth work is $950. The median William J. Forsyth work on paper sells for $650 across 71 lots. The median William J. Forsyth painting sells for $2,500 across 60 lots. The median William J. Forsyth print sells for $302 across 8 lots. Small (under 50 cm) William J. Forsyth work on papers typically sell for $450–$900 (the middle half of 60 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) William J. Forsyth paintings typically sell for $1,800–$4,950 (the middle half of 47 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 J. Forsyth work on paper?

Based on 71 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William J. Forsyth work on paper is $650. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is William J. Forsyth's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William J. Forsyth work on paper is $3,000. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $3,000 (buyer's premium not included).

### What is the average price of a William J. Forsyth painting?

Based on 60 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William J. Forsyth painting is $2,500. 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 J. Forsyth's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William J. Forsyth painting is $16,000. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $16,000 (buyer's premium not included).

### What is the average price of a small William J. Forsyth work on paper?

Based on 60 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William J. Forsyth work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $600, 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 medium William J. Forsyth painting?

Based on 47 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium William J. Forsyth painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,750, 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 J. Forsyth's auction record?

William J. Forsyth's auction record is $16,000, set in 2018. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $16,000 (buyer's premium not included).

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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 J. Forsyth auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-j-forsyth (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.