William Matthew Prior (1806–1873)
William Matthew Prior is an American artist with 105 auction lots recorded since 1995, median price $3,750. 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 Matthew Prior is recorded as sold in 2025 for $10,000; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
3 William Matthew Prior works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow William Matthew Prior free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full William Matthew Prior record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William Matthew Prior on OpeningBid →What is a William Matthew Prior work worth?
Across 85 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Matthew Prior work is $3,750.
The median William Matthew Prior painting sells for $2,932 across 62 lots.
The median William Matthew Prior print sells for $4,347 across 2 lots.
The median William Matthew Prior work on paper sells for $26,450 across 1 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) William Matthew Prior paintings typically sell for $2,125–$14,688 (the middle half of 34 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) William Matthew Prior paintings typically sell for $805–$7,790 (the middle half of 27 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 | 2 | $4,347 | $6,930 | — | 2023-01-23 |
| Paintings | 73 | $2,932†‡ | $200,000 | 84.9% | 2026-06-18 |
| Works on Paper | 1 | $26,450 | $26,450 | — | 2008-06-01 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 5 | $50,525 | $200,000 | — | 2022-01-20 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
William Matthew Prior's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (2 lots) median $4,347. Paintings (73 lots) median $2,932, record $200,000. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 5 lots) the median is $50,525.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 34 | $2,125–$14,688†‡ | $4,062†‡ | $200,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 27 | $805–$7,790‡ | $1,900‡ | $112,575 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ 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 | 2022 | $200,000 |
| Paintings | 2008 | $112,575 |
| Works on Paper | 2008 | $26,450 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $6,930 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $1,764 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a William Matthew Prior worth?
Across 85 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Matthew Prior work is $3,750. The median William Matthew Prior painting sells for $2,932 across 62 lots. The median William Matthew Prior print sells for $4,347 across 2 lots. The median William Matthew Prior work on paper sells for $26,450 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) William Matthew Prior paintings typically sell for $2,125–$14,688 (the middle half of 34 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) William Matthew Prior paintings typically sell for $805–$7,790 (the middle half of 27 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 Matthew Prior painting?
Based on 62 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Matthew Prior painting is $2,932. 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 Matthew Prior's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a William Matthew Prior painting is $200,000.
What is the average price of a small William Matthew Prior painting?
Based on 34 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William Matthew Prior painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $4,062, 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 Matthew Prior painting?
Based on 27 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium William Matthew Prior painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,900, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is William Matthew Prior's auction record?
William Matthew Prior's auction record is $200,000, set in 2022.
See the full William Matthew Prior record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William Matthew Prior on OpeningBid →