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

# William Percy French (1854–1920)

## What is William Percy French’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 448 auction results for William Percy French at 8 houses since 1994. Over the last 24 months the median price was $2,981 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,580–$4,627, n=25). The auction record is $41,938 for The Mountains of Mourne (2007, James Adam Salesrooms). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Mountains of Mourne | Watercolour | $41,938 | James Adam Salesrooms | May 2007 |
| 2 | Port of Dublin, 1909 | Watercolour | $24,324 | James Adam Salesrooms | May 2007 |
| 3 | The River Falls; Moonlight on the water; Geese on a country track | Watercolour | $22,699 | James Adam Salesrooms | May 2004 |
| 4 | Sailing Scene | Watercolour on card | $20,269 | James Adam Salesrooms | Dec 2007 |
| 5 | Horn Head, Donegal | Watercolour | $18,453 | James Adam Salesrooms | May 2007 |
| 6 | Moorland Scene at Sunset | Watercolour | $17,613 | James Adam Salesrooms | May 2008 |
| 7 | Horse Drawn Barge on Canal, 1896 | Watercolour | $17,117 | James Adam Salesrooms | Sep 2026 |
| 8 | Connemara, 1915 | Watercolour | $15,662 | James Adam Salesrooms | Dec 2007 |
| 9 | Sailing oat off the Coast, 1909 | Watercolour | $14,102 | James Adam Salesrooms | Jun 2009 |
| 10 | A North Antrim Bog, 1915 | Watercolour | $13,745 | James Adam Salesrooms | Jun 2010 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 226 | $4,432 |
| Other | 5 | $3,153 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 10 | $10,014 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 220 | $4,199 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 448 results from 8 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


William Percy French is an Irish artist with 535 auction lots recorded since 1994, median price $3,875. 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 Percy French sold in 2026 for a hammer price of $4,315 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a William Percy French work worth?

Across 445 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Percy French work is $3,875.

The median William Percy French work on paper sells for $4,052 across 317 lots.

The median William Percy French painting sells for $2,739 across 2 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) William Percy French work on papers typically sell for $2,805–$6,109 (the middle half of 305 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2 | $2,739† | $3,287† | — | 2020-03-09 |
| Works on Paper | 377 | $4,052†‡ | $807,432† | 84.1% | 2026-09-28 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 23 | $14,102† | $807,432† | — | 2026-09-23 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

## Price by size

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 305 | $2,805–$6,109†‡ | $4,013†‡ | $807,432† |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 12 | $5,206–$11,575†‡ | $8,807†‡ | $13,745 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2001 | $807,432† |
| Works on Paper | 2001 | $728,932† |
| Paintings | 2020 | $3,287† |
| Paintings | 2020 | $2,191† |

† 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 Percy French worth?

Across 445 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Percy French work is $3,875. The median William Percy French work on paper sells for $4,052 across 317 lots. The median William Percy French painting sells for $2,739 across 2 lots. Small (under 50 cm) William Percy French work on papers typically sell for $2,805–$6,109 (the middle half of 305 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 Percy French work on paper?

Based on 317 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Percy French work on paper is $4,052. 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 Percy French's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Percy French work on paper is $807,432. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $807,432 (buyer's premium not included).

### What is the average price of a small William Percy French work on paper?

Based on 305 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William Percy French work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $4,013, 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 Percy French work on paper?

Based on 12 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium William Percy French work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $8,807, 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 Percy French's auction record?

William Percy French's auction record is $807,432, set in 2001. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $807,432 (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 Percy French auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-percy-french (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.