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

# William Trost Richards (1833–1905)

## What is William Trost Richards’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 182 auction results for William Trost Richards at 22 houses since 1988. Over the last 24 months the median price was $20,405 including buyer’s premium (middle half $10,170–$31,373, n=22). The auction record is $1,650,500 for Mackerel Cove, Jamestown, Rhode Island (2011, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mackerel Cove, Jamestown, Rhode Island, 1833 | Oil paint | $1,650,500 | Christie's | May 2011 |
| 2 | At Atlantic City | Oil on canvas | $493,000 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |
| 3 | The Neglected Garden, 1833 | Oil paint | $352,000 | Christie's | Dec 2005 |
| 4 | Nantucket Shore, 1865 | Painting | $325,000 | Christie's | May 2019 |
| 5 | Forest Interior, 1833 | Oil paint | $276,300 | Christie's | Dec 2004 |
| 6 | Autumn Woods, 1865 | Oil paint | $206,250 | Christie's | Nov 2019 |
| 7 | Forest Interior, 1833 | Oil paint | $203,000 | Christie's | May 2014 |
| 8 | Sunlit Waves, 1903 | Oil paint | $201,600 | Christie's | Jan 2025 |
| 9 | Newport Beach | — | $169,000 | Sotheby's | Nov 2007 |
| 10 | On the Coast of New England, 1833 | Oil paint | $158,500 | Christie's | Dec 2009 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 101 | $25,200 |
| Other | 14 | $21,945 |
| Works on paper | 37 | $4,826 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 12 | $63,500 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 55 | $30,240 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 76 | $7,914 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 182 results from 22 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


William Trost Richards is an American artist with 216 auction lots recorded since 1988, median price $13,000. 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 Trost Richards sold in 2026 for $21,760, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**1 William Trost Richards work is coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [William Trost Richards on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-trost-richards?ref=kg:william-trost-richards) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a William Trost Richards work worth?

Across 177 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Trost Richards work is $13,000.

The median William Trost Richards painting sells for $22,000 across 104 lots.

The median William Trost Richards work on paper sells for $4,388 across 66 lots.

The median William Trost Richards print sells for $2,501 across 2 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) William Trost Richards paintings typically sell for $2,712–$15,255 (the middle half of 48 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) William Trost Richards work on papers typically sell for $1,375–$16,250 (the middle half of 45 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 | 2 | $2,501 | $4,600 | — | 2002-05-23 |
| Paintings | 115 | $22,000†‡ | $1.7M | 90.4% | 2026-07-07 |
| Works on Paper | 81 | $4,388†‡ | $100,800 | 81.5% | 2026-09-23 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 17 | $169,000 | $1.7M | — | 2025-01-23 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

William Trost Richards's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (2 lots) median $2,501. Paintings (115 lots) median $22,000, record $1,650,500. A typical William Trost Richards painting sells for around 8.8× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 17 lots) the median is $169,000.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 48 | $2,712–$15,255†‡ | $8,438†‡ | $352,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 44 | $21,698–$63,255†‡ | $36,125†‡ | $1.7M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 11 | $50,500–$97,575 | $64,000 | $201,600 |

† 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) | 45 | $1,375–$16,250‡ | $3,250‡ | $100,800 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 19 | $2,120–$7,625†‡ | $4,740†‡ | $19,550 |

† 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 | $1.7M |
| Paintings | 2005 | $352,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $100,800 |
| Works on Paper | 2007 | $97,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2002 | $4,600 |
| Prints & Editions | 1994 | $402 |

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 Trost Richards worth?

Across 177 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Trost Richards work is $13,000. The median William Trost Richards painting sells for $22,000 across 104 lots. The median William Trost Richards work on paper sells for $4,388 across 66 lots. The median William Trost Richards print sells for $2,501 across 2 lots. Small (under 50 cm) William Trost Richards paintings typically sell for $2,712–$15,255 (the middle half of 48 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) William Trost Richards work on papers typically sell for $1,375–$16,250 (the middle half of 45 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 Trost Richards painting?

Based on 104 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Trost Richards painting is $22,000. 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 Trost Richards's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Trost Richards painting is $1,650,500.

### What is the average price of a William Trost Richards work on paper?

Based on 66 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Trost Richards work on paper is $4,388. 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 Trost Richards's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Trost Richards work on paper is $100,800.

### What is the average price of a small William Trost Richards painting?

Based on 48 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William Trost Richards painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $8,438, 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 Trost Richards work on paper?

Based on 45 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William Trost Richards work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $3,250, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is William Trost Richards's auction record?

William Trost Richards's auction record is $1,650,500, 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 Trost Richards auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-trost-richards (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.