William Merritt Chase (1849–1916)
What is William Merritt Chase’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 94 auction results for William Merritt Chase at 18 houses since 1990. Over the last 24 months the median price was $27,300 including buyer’s premium (middle half $8,407–$51,000, n=24). The auction record is $6,649,000 for I Think I Am Ready Now (The Mirror, The Pink Dress) (2008, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I Think I Am Ready Now (The Mirror, The Pink Dress) | Oil on canvas | $6,649,000 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |
| 2 | Shinnecock Hills, Long Island, 1849 | Oil paint | $1,652,500 | Christie's | Nov 1999 |
| 3 | An Idle Afternoon, 1849 | Oil paint | $864,000 | Christie's | May 2000 |
| 4 | Gowanus Bay, 1887 | Painting | $824,000 | Christie's | May 2007 |
| 5 | Beach Scene (Morning at Canoe Place), 1896 | Painting | $609,600 | Christie's | Nov 2025 |
| 6 | A Memory: In the Italian Villa, 1910 | Oil paint | $607,500 | Christie's | Nov 2016 |
| 7 | The Orangerie, 1909 | Oil paint | $520,000 | Christie's | May 2006 |
| 8 | Afternoon in the Park, 1888 | Pastel on paper laid down on canvas | $508,000 | Christie's | Jan 2026 |
| 9 | Mona, Daughter of Mrs. R., 1894 | Oil paint | $482,500 | Christie's | Dec 2010 |
| 10 | Shinnecock Landscape, 1849 | Painting | $446,000 | Christie's | Nov 2000 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 60 | $57,980 |
| Other | 12 | $43,750 |
| Works on paper | 5 | $16,250 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 35 | $51,600 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 32 | $45,566 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 94 results from 18 houses · How we compute these figures
William Merritt Chase is an American artist with 121 auction lots recorded since 1990, median price $37,800. 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 Merritt Chase sold in 2026 for $51,600, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
2 William Merritt Chase works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow William Merritt Chase free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full William Merritt Chase record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William Merritt Chase on OpeningBid →What is a William Merritt Chase work worth?
Across 93 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Merritt Chase work is $37,800.
The median William Merritt Chase painting sells for $38,400 across 65 lots.
The median William Merritt Chase work on paper sells for $16,250 across 13 lots.
The median William Merritt Chase print sells for $429 across 5 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) William Merritt Chase paintings typically sell for $9,962–$183,750 (the middle half of 32 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) William Merritt Chase paintings typically sell for $13,188–$241,425 (the middle half of 24 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 | 10 | $429† | $4,920 | 50% | 2025-03-11 |
| Paintings | 70 | $38,400†‡ | $1.7M | 92.9% | 2026-05-21 |
| Works on Paper | 18 | $16,250†‡ | $520,000 | 72.2% | 2026-01-22 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 27 | $254,000‡ | $6.6M | — | 2026-01-22 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
William Merritt Chase's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (10 lots) median $429 with 50% sell-through. Paintings (70 lots) median $38,400, record $1,652,500. A typical William Merritt Chase painting sells for around 90× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 27 lots) the median is $254,000.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $175–$832† | $429† | $4,920 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 24 | $13,188–$241,425‡ | $67,800‡ | $824,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 32 | $9,962–$183,750†‡ | $38,900†‡ | $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) | 6 | $16,008–$89,400† | $63,200† | $508,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $3,104–$60,312†‡ | $9,712†‡ | $520,000 |
† 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 | 1999 | $1.7M |
| Paintings | 2000 | $864,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2006 | $520,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $508,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2012 | $4,920 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $832 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a William Merritt Chase worth?
Across 93 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Merritt Chase work is $37,800. The median William Merritt Chase painting sells for $38,400 across 65 lots. The median William Merritt Chase work on paper sells for $16,250 across 13 lots. The median William Merritt Chase print sells for $429 across 5 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) William Merritt Chase paintings typically sell for $9,962–$183,750 (the middle half of 32 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) William Merritt Chase paintings typically sell for $13,188–$241,425 (the middle half of 24 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 Merritt Chase painting?
Based on 65 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Merritt Chase painting is $38,400. 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 Merritt Chase's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a William Merritt Chase painting is $1,652,500.
What is the average price of a William Merritt Chase work on paper?
Based on 13 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Merritt Chase work on paper is $16,250. 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 Merritt Chase's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a William Merritt Chase work on paper is $520,000.
What is the average price of a medium William Merritt Chase painting?
Based on 32 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium William Merritt Chase painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $38,900, 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 Merritt Chase painting?
Based on 24 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William Merritt Chase painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $67,800, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is William Merritt Chase's auction record?
William Merritt Chase's auction record is $6,649,000, set in 2008.
See the full William Merritt Chase record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William Merritt Chase on OpeningBid →