William Michael Harnett (1848–1892)
What is William Michael Harnett’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 31 auction results for William Michael Harnett at 6 houses since 1998. Over the last 24 months the median price was $31,750 including buyer’s premium (middle half $21,385–$44,800, n=6). The auction record is $607,500 for After the Hunt (1998, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | After the Hunt, 1848 | Oil paint | $607,500 | Christie's | Dec 1998 |
| 2 | Still Life with Lobster | Oil on canvas | $313,000 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |
| 3 | Still Life with Pipe and Philadelphia Ledger, 1848 | Oil paint | $211,500 | Christie's | May 1999 |
| 4 | Still Life with Lobster, Fruit, Champagne and Newspaper, 1848 | Still Life with Lobster, Fruit, Champagne and Newspaper | $182,000 | Christie's | Nov 2001 |
| 5 | His Mug and His Pipe, 1851 | Oil paint | $145,500 | Christie's | May 1998 |
| 6 | Lobster, Fruit, Champagne and Newspaper, 1882 | Oil on canvas | $126,000 | Christie's | Jan 2023 |
| 7 | Still Life: Le Mot d'Or, 1880 | Oil paint | $120,000 | Christie's | May 1999 |
| 8 | Two Ounces, 1848 | Oil paint | $119,500 | Christie's | Dec 2002 |
| 9 | Still Life, 1848 | Still life | $98,500 | Christie's | Nov 2012 |
| 10 | Eleme Figs and Newspaper, 1876 | Oil paint | $93,750 | Christie's | Jan 2022 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 26 | $59,118 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 23 | $53,235 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 31 results from 6 houses · How we compute these figures
William Michael Harnett is an American artist with 41 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $53,235. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page.
A work by William Michael Harnett sold in 2026 for $65,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
1 William Michael Harnett work is coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow William Michael Harnett free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full William Michael Harnett record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William Michael Harnett on OpeningBid →What is a William Michael Harnett work worth?
Across 31 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Michael Harnett work is $53,235.
The median William Michael Harnett painting sells for $56,440 across 24 lots.
The median William Michael Harnett work on paper sells for $154,000 across 2 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) William Michael Harnett paintings typically sell for $23,995–$119,875 (the middle half of 22 sold lots).
Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
Price breakdown by category
| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 1 | — | — | 0% | — |
| Paintings | 30 | $56,440† | $1M | 80% | 2026-02-09 |
| Works on Paper | 2 | $154,000 | $182,000 | — | 2023-01-19 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 10 | $196,750 | $1M | — | 2023-01-19 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 22 | $23,995–$119,875† | $56,440† | $1M |
† 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 | 2007 | $1M |
| Paintings | 1998 | $607,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2001 | $182,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $126,000 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a William Michael Harnett worth?
Across 31 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Michael Harnett work is $53,235. The median William Michael Harnett painting sells for $56,440 across 24 lots. The median William Michael Harnett work on paper sells for $154,000 across 2 lots. Small (under 50 cm) William Michael Harnett paintings typically sell for $23,995–$119,875 (the middle half of 22 sold lots). Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is the average price of a William Michael Harnett painting?
Based on 24 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Michael Harnett painting is $56,440. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is William Michael Harnett's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a William Michael Harnett painting is $1,001,594.
What is the average price of a small William Michael Harnett painting?
Based on 22 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William Michael Harnett painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $56,440, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is William Michael Harnett's auction record?
William Michael Harnett's auction record is $1,001,594, set in 2007.
See the full William Michael Harnett record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William Michael Harnett on OpeningBid →