William Thornley (1857–1935)
William Thornley is a French artist with 83 auction lots recorded since 1996, median price $1,266. 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 Thornley sold in 2026 for $1,637, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
4 William Thornley works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow William Thornley free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full William Thornley record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William Thornley on OpeningBid →What is a William Thornley work worth?
Across 53 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Thornley work is $1,266.
The median William Thornley painting sells for $1,100 across 59 lots.
The median William Thornley work on paper sells for $918 across 5 lots.
The median William Thornley print sells for $3,883 across 6 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) William Thornley paintings typically sell for $655–$2,189 (the middle half of 52 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 | 6 | $3,883†‡ | $4,943 | — | 2021-12-08 |
| Paintings | 76 | $1,100†‡ | $24,000† | 77.6% | 2026-06-26 |
| Works on Paper | 8 | $918† | $2,066 | 62.5% | 2026-09-09 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 4 | $7,879†‡ | $24,000† | — | 2001-05-30 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
William Thornley's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (6 lots) median $3,883. Paintings (76 lots) median $1,100, record $24,000. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $24,000 (buyer's premium not included). At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 4 lots) the median is $7,879.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 52 | $655–$2,189†‡ | $1,106†‡ | $24,000† |
† 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 | 1996 | $24,000† |
| Paintings | 2001 | $9,228‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $4,943 |
| Prints & Editions | 2014 | $4,604‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2013 | $2,066 |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $1,637 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a William Thornley worth?
Across 53 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Thornley work is $1,266. The median William Thornley painting sells for $1,100 across 59 lots. The median William Thornley work on paper sells for $918 across 5 lots. The median William Thornley print sells for $3,883 across 6 lots. Small (under 50 cm) William Thornley paintings typically sell for $655–$2,189 (the middle half of 52 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 Thornley painting?
Based on 59 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Thornley painting is $1,100. 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 Thornley's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a William Thornley painting is $24,000. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $24,000 (buyer's premium not included).
What is the average price of a small William Thornley painting?
Based on 52 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William Thornley painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,106, 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 Thornley's auction record?
William Thornley's auction record is $24,000, set in 1996. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $24,000 (buyer's premium not included).
See the full William Thornley record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William Thornley on OpeningBid →