What is a Russell Drysdale work on paper worth?
1912–1981 · Price guide from past auction results
Half of the 137 works by Russell Drysdale with a published auction price sold between $2,631Sign up free to see and $217,950Sign up free to see, and the median is $6,300Sign up free to see. For works on paper alone, the median is $3,568Sign up free to see across 78 sales. In the last five years the median was $4,155Sign up free to see across 33 sales. These are past auction results, not a valuation: medium, size, condition and provenance all change what a particular work brings.
Russell Drysdale prices by medium
- Auction results
- 158
- Sold rate
- 87%
- Active at auction
- 2009–2026
- Median price
- $6.3kSign up free to see
- Record price
- $1.7MSign up free to see Drovers on the Barkly's (1957), Smith & Singer, Apr 2026
| Medium | Priced sales | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 78 | $2.1k–$7.4kSign up free to see | $3.6kSign up free to see |
| Paintings | 49 | $186k–$495kSign up free to see | $315kSign up free to see |
| Prints | 10 | $220–$620Sign up free to see | $388Sign up free to see |
Top auction houses: Menzies (73), Smith & Singer (46), Davidson Auctions (23)
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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.
Prices by size
| Size (longest side) | Priced sales | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (under 30 cm) | 46 | $1.5k–$5.8kSign up free to see | $3.1kSign up free to see |
| Mid-size (30–75 cm) | 59 | $3.3k–$219kSign up free to see | $9.2kSign up free to see |
| Large (75–150 cm) | 28 | $140k–$804kSign up free to see | $393kSign up free to see |
Recent Russell Drysdale sales
- The White Blow, oil on canvas — $125,676Sign up free to see, Leonard Joel, Oct 6, 2026
- The Mailman, Meekatharra, pen and ink on paper — $11,413Sign up free to see, Smith & Singer, Aug 25, 2026
- Townscape, ink and wash on paper — $3,950Sign up free to see, Leonard Joel, Jun 2, 2026
- Boy in a Landscape (1953), oil on composition board — $83,407Sign up free to see, Smith & Singer, Apr 28, 2026
- Composition (1946), gouache and ink on board — $122,915Sign up free to see, Smith & Singer, Apr 28, 2026
- Drovers on the Barkly's (1957), oil on canvas — $1,659,356Sign up free to see, Smith & Singer, Apr 28, 2026
- Portrait of a Stockman, Ink & Wash — $1,943Sign up free to see, Davidson Auctions, Mar 22, 2026
- Gentleman Wearing Braces c1970, sepia ink and wash on paper — $2,229Sign up free to see, Menzies, Nov 19, 2025
Questions about Russell Drysdale prices
What is a Russell Drysdale work on paper worth?
Based on 137 priced auction sales recorded by ArtSell, works by Russell Drysdale have sold for a median of $6,300, and half of them sold between $2,631 and $217,950. For works on paper alone the median is $3,568 (78 sales). Medium, size, condition, subject and provenance all affect the price of a particular work; these are past auction results, not a valuation.
What is the most expensive work by Russell Drysdale sold at auction?
The highest price in ArtSell’s records is $1,659,356 for “Drovers on the Barkly's (1957)” at Smith & Singer in April 2026.
Which Russell Drysdale medium sells for the most?
By median price, paintings lead with $314,704 (49 sales).
How often do Russell Drysdale works sell at auction?
87% of the 158 lots recorded between 2009 and 2026 sold.
How can I sell a Russell Drysdale work on paper?
Request a free auction estimate on ArtSell: send photos and details, and our specialists will reply with an estimate. There is no obligation.
Russell Drysdale have appeared at auction 158 times in ArtSell’s records between 2009 and 2026; 137 sold, a sell-through rate of 87%.
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