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

# William James Glackens (1870–1938)

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

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 83 auction results for William James Glackens at 11 houses since 1991. Over the last 24 months the median price was $7,680 including buyer’s premium (middle half $6,400–$10,160, n=5). The auction record is $1,707,500 for Vacation Home (1998, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacation Home, 1870 | Oil paint | $1,707,500 | Christie's | Dec 1998 |
| 2 | Café Lafayette (Portrait of Kay Laurell), 1914 | Oil paint | $792,500 | Christie's | Nov 2018 |
| 3 | L'Aperitif, 1870 | Oil paint | $755,200 | Christie's | May 2005 |
| 4 | The Beach, Isle Adam, 1925 | Oil on canvas | $581,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Jun 2017 |
| 5 | Washington Square, 1870 | Oil paint | $552,500 | Christie's | May 1998 |
| 6 | A Stroll in the Park, 1915 | Oil paint | $481,000 | Christie's | Nov 2007 |
| 7 | Wickford Harbor, Rhode Island, 1909 | Oil paint | $458,500 | Christie's | May 2009 |
| 8 | The Swing | — | $397,000 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |
| 9 | The Swing, 1913 | Oil paint | $365,900 | Christie's | May 2004 |
| 10 | Women on the Beach, 1870 | Oil paint | $314,000 | Christie's | Nov 2000 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 53 | $58,600 |
| Other | 9 | $25,000 |
| Works on paper | 14 | $1,405 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 25 | $189,000 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 48 | $23,700 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 83 results from 11 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


William James Glackens is an American artist with 102 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $38,400. 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 James Glackens sold in 2026 for $73,660, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a William James Glackens work worth?

Across 81 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William James Glackens work is $38,400.

The median William James Glackens painting sells for $50,095 across 58 lots.

The median William James Glackens work on paper sells for $1,625 across 17 lots.

The median William James Glackens print sells for $562 across 3 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) William James Glackens paintings typically sell for $13,502–$46,875 (the middle half of 35 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) William James Glackens paintings typically sell for $106,250–$412,200 (the middle half of 23 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 | $562‡ | $2,000 | — | 2025-10-23 |
| Paintings | 63 | $50,095†‡ | $1.7M | 92.1% | 2026-04-23 |
| Works on Paper | 26 | $1,625† | $73,660 | 65.4% | 2026-01-27 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 22 | $263,650 | $1.7M | — | 2023-04-21 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

William James Glackens's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (3 lots) median $562. Paintings (63 lots) median $50,095, record $1,707,500. A typical William James Glackens painting sells for around 89× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 22 lots) the median is $263,650.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 35 | $13,502–$46,875†‡ | $25,400†‡ | $755,200 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 23 | $106,250–$412,200 | $192,000 | $1.7M |

† 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 | $962–$3,510† | $1,788† | $73,660 |

† 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 | 1998 | $1.7M |
| Paintings | 2018 | $792,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $73,660 |
| Works on Paper | 2004 | $23,900 |
| Prints & Editions | 2003 | $2,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2014 | $562 |

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 James Glackens worth?

Across 81 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William James Glackens work is $38,400. The median William James Glackens painting sells for $50,095 across 58 lots. The median William James Glackens work on paper sells for $1,625 across 17 lots. The median William James Glackens print sells for $562 across 3 lots. Small (under 50 cm) William James Glackens paintings typically sell for $13,502–$46,875 (the middle half of 35 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) William James Glackens paintings typically sell for $106,250–$412,200 (the middle half of 23 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 James Glackens painting?

Based on 58 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William James Glackens painting is $50,095. 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 James Glackens's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William James Glackens painting is $1,707,500.

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

Based on 17 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William James Glackens work on paper is $1,625. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

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

The highest price recorded at auction for a William James Glackens work on paper is $73,660.

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

Based on 35 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William James Glackens painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $25,400, 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 medium William James Glackens painting?

Based on 23 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium William James Glackens painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $192,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is William James Glackens's auction record?

William James Glackens's auction record is $1,707,500, set in 1998.

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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 James Glackens auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-james-glackens (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.