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

# William Powell Frith (1819–1909)

## What is William Powell Frith’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 69 auction results for William Powell Frith at 21 houses since 1997. Over the last 24 months the median price was $800 including buyer’s premium (middle half $394–$4,869, n=6). The auction record is $783,683 for The Derby Day: the 'first study' for the celebrated painting (2011, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Derby Day: the 'first study' for the celebrated painting, 1819 | Oil paint | $783,683 | Christie's | Dec 2011 |
| 2 | An English Merrymaking a Hundred Years Ago, 1819 | Oil paint | $571,711 | Christie's | Dec 2009 |
| 3 | KATE NICKLEBY AT MADAME MANTALINI'S, 1842 | Oil paint | $62,583 | Sotheby's | Dec 2019 |
| 4 | The Lover's Seat | Oil on canvas, in its original frame by Mr Pond which was awarded a prize when displayed at the Alexandra Park International Exhibition in 1885 | $49,860 | Sotheby's | Jun 2020 |
| 5 | Kate Nickleby at Madame Mantalini's, 1819 | Oil on canvas | $37,294 | Christie's | Apr 2007 |
| 6 | Juliet, "O that I were a Glove upon that Hand", 1862 | Oil paint | $31,421 | Sotheby's | Jul 2019 |
| 7 | Isabelle Frith reading, 1850 | Painting | $31,231 | Christie's | Jun 2015 |
| 8 | Interior of Marseilles Prison, a Scene from Little Dorrit | Oil on canvas in original frame | $30,515 | Sotheby's | Dec 2020 |
| 9 | Surprise, 1819 | Oil paint | $29,375 | Christie's | Oct 2000 |
| 10 | Nell Gwyn, 1819 | Painting | $28,923 | Bonhams | Sep 2022 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 38 | $11,056 |
| Other | 5 | $3,447 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 22 | $18,252 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 21 | $4,350 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 69 results from 21 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


William Powell Frith is a British (modern) artist with 94 auction lots recorded since 1997, median price $6,931. 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 Powell Frith is recorded as sold in 2026 for $16,166; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**2 William Powell Frith works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [William Powell Frith on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-powell-frith?ref=kg:william-powell-frith) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a William Powell Frith work worth?

Across 59 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Powell Frith work is $6,931.

The median William Powell Frith painting sells for $8,178 across 56 lots.

The median William Powell Frith work on paper sells for $681 across 5 lots.

The median William Powell Frith print sells for $642 across 2 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) William Powell Frith paintings typically sell for $4,530–$29,375 (the middle half of 29 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) William Powell Frith paintings typically sell for $1,623–$8,100 (the middle half of 26 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 | $642‡ | $1,194‡ | 66.7% | 2013-10-17 |
| Paintings | 75 | $8,178†‡ | $783,683 | 74.7% | 2026-06-24 |
| Works on Paper | 6 | $681‡ | $5,993 | 83.3% | 2025-07-30 |
| Photography | 1 | $1,011‡ | $1,011‡ | — | 2024-03-13 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 4 | $317,147 | $783,683 | — | 2020-06-18 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

William Powell Frith's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (3 lots) median $642 with 66.7% sell-through. Paintings (75 lots) median $8,178, record $783,683. A typical William Powell Frith painting sells for around 13× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 4 lots) the median is $317,147.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 26 | $1,623–$8,100†‡ | $2,686†‡ | $31,231 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 29 | $4,530–$29,375†‡ | $15,710†‡ | $783,683 |

† 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 | 2011 | $783,683 |
| Paintings | 2009 | $571,711 |
| Works on Paper | 2015 | $5,993 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $1,942‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2013 | $1,194‡ |
| Photography | 2024 | $1,011‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2009 | $91 |

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

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 Powell Frith worth?

Across 59 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Powell Frith work is $6,931. The median William Powell Frith painting sells for $8,178 across 56 lots. The median William Powell Frith work on paper sells for $681 across 5 lots. The median William Powell Frith print sells for $642 across 2 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) William Powell Frith paintings typically sell for $4,530–$29,375 (the middle half of 29 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) William Powell Frith paintings typically sell for $1,623–$8,100 (the middle half of 26 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 Powell Frith painting?

Based on 56 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Powell Frith painting is $8,178. 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 Powell Frith's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Powell Frith painting is $783,683.

### What is the average price of a medium William Powell Frith painting?

Based on 29 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium William Powell Frith painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $15,710, 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 Powell Frith painting?

Based on 26 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William Powell Frith painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,686, 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 Powell Frith's auction record?

William Powell Frith's auction record is $783,683, set in 2011.

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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 Powell Frith auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-powell-frith (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.