John Melville Oil Paintings: Auction Prices

1902–1986

John Melville oil paintings have appeared at auction 12 times in ArtSell’s records between 2020 and 2025; 12 sold, a sell-through rate of 100%. Half of the priced sales fell between $1.1kSign up free to see and $2.5kSign up free to see, with a median of $2kSign up free to see. The highest recorded price is $5.5kSign up free to see for A Grain of The Absolute, 1967 at Lyon & Turnbull in October 2021. Most results come from Lyon & Turnbull (10) and Sworders (2).

£4,000≈ $5,513≈ €4,734Sign uprecord price · incl. premiumA Grain of The Absolute, 1967Lyon & Turnbull202112auction results2020–2025years recorded100%sold$2kSign up free to seemedian price

John Melville oil paintings: key figures

Auction results: 12
Sold rate: 100%
Active at auction: 2020–2025
Median price: $2kSign up free to see
Record price: $5.5kSign up free to see A Grain of The Absolute, 1967, Lyon & Turnbull, Oct 2021

Top auction houses: Lyon & Turnbull (10), Sworders (2)

Price guide: what is a work by John Melville worth? →

Selling? How to sell a work by John Melville: free estimate, costs and timeline →

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Typical range is the middle half of priced sales (USD at the sale-date rate). Past auction results, not a valuation.

Price chart & statistics for John Melville →

All oil paintings results

PORTRAIT OF A DARK HAIRED WOMAN
Oil · Canvas
57cm x 49cm (22.5in x 19.25in)
Lyon & Turnbull · Aug 13, 2025 · Lot 30
£504≈ $684≈ €584Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £600–800View at Lyon & Turnbull ↗
Untitled
Oil · Canvas
Sworders · Oct 17, 2023 · Lot 208
£1,100≈ $1,339≈ €1,267HammerSign up free to seeEst. £600–800View at Sworders ↗
The Tease, 1967
Oil · Canvas
85.5cm x 59cm (33.7in x 23.25in)
Lyon & Turnbull · Apr 29, 2022 · Lot 120
£1,625≈ $2,041≈ €1,937Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £800–1,200View at Lyon & Turnbull ↗
Tree of Hope, 1973
Oil
68cm x 55cm (26.75in x 21.6in)
Lyon & Turnbull · Oct 29, 2021 · Lot 353
£625≈ $861≈ €740Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £600–800View at Lyon & Turnbull ↗
Contentment, circa 1955
Oil · Board
109cm x 88cm (42.9in x 34.5in)
Lyon & Turnbull · Oct 29, 2021 · Lot 352
£875≈ $1,206≈ €1,036Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £800–1,200View at Lyon & Turnbull ↗
A Grain of The Absolute, 1967
Oil · Canvas
97cm x 135cm (38in x 53in)
Lyon & Turnbull · Oct 29, 2021 · Lot 351
£4,000≈ $5,513≈ €4,734Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £1,500–2,000View at Lyon & Turnbull ↗
Untitled
Oil · Canvas
Sworders · Oct 5, 2021 · Lot 189
£1,800≈ $2,452≈ €2,113HammerSign up free to seeEst. £500–700View at Sworders ↗
Mother Earth, 1967
Oil · Canvas
96cm x 134cm (37.8in x 52.7in)
Lyon & Turnbull · Oct 23, 2020 · Lot 305
£1,688≈ $2,206≈ €1,861Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £1,500–2,500View at Lyon & Turnbull ↗
Portrait, 1954
Oil · Canvas
79cm x 59cm (31in x 23.3in)
Lyon & Turnbull · Oct 23, 2020 · Lot 304
£2,000≈ $2,615≈ €2,206Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £1,500–2,500View at Lyon & Turnbull ↗
Still Life with Bowl of Fruit, 1955
Oil · Canvas
34cm x 59.5cm (13.4in x 23.4in)
Lyon & Turnbull · Oct 23, 2020 · Lot 303
£688≈ $899≈ €758Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £600–800View at Lyon & Turnbull ↗
Portrait of Betty, 1936
Oil · Canvas
39cm x 29cm (15.4in x 11.4in)
Lyon & Turnbull · Oct 23, 2020 · Lot 302
£1,500≈ $1,961≈ €1,654Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £600–800View at Lyon & Turnbull ↗
Self-portrait
Oil · Canvas
29.5cm x 20.5cm (11.75in x 8in)
Lyon & Turnbull · Oct 23, 2020 · Lot 301
£2,000≈ $2,615≈ €2,206Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £800–1,200View at Lyon & Turnbull ↗