Joshua Reynolds
British · 1723–1792 · Painter, Printmaker
Sir Joshua Reynolds was an English painter who specialised in portraits. The art critic John Russell called him one of the major European painters of the 18th century, while… (Wikipedia)
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Record prices
MRS HARTLEY AS A NYMPH WITH THE YOUNG BACCHUSLyon & Turnbull · £262,700≈ $320,914≈ €311,567Sign up to see
P. r. a. (british 1723-1792), portrait of thomas pelhamDreweatts · £65,000≈ $86,541≈ €74,566Sign up to see
P. r. a. (british 1723-1792), portrait of theophila palmerDreweatts · £40,000≈ $53,256≈ €45,887Sign up to see
Joshua Reynolds’s highest prices recorded at auction, ranked in US dollars at each sale-date exchange rate and shown in the currency of the sale (with the buyer’s premium where the house publishes it).
Joshua Reynolds have appeared at auction 18 times in ArtSell’s records between 2008 and 2026; 15 sold, a sell-through rate of 83%. The median price realised is $5kSign up free to see across 15 priced sales; the middle half sold for $535Sign up free to see–$21.5kSign up free to see. The highest recorded price is $321kSign up free to see for MRS HARTLEY AS A NYMPH WITH THE YOUNG BACCHUS at Lyon & Turnbull in January 2025. By medium, paintings have a median of $21.5kSign up free to see (8 sales), works on paper have a median of $1.1kSign up free to see (5 sales) and prints have a median of $62Sign up free to see (2 sales). Sales were recorded mainly at Dreweatts (7), Toovey's (2) and Chiswick Auctions (2).
Joshua Reynolds at auction: key figures
- Auction results
- 18
- Sold rate
- 83%
- Active at auction
- 2008–2026
- Median price
- $5kSign up free to see
- Record price
- $321kSign up free to see MRS HARTLEY AS A NYMPH WITH THE YOUNG BACCHUS, Lyon & Turnbull, Jan 2025
| Medium | Priced sales | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 8 | $11.6k–$61.6kSign up free to see | $21.5kSign up free to see |
| Works on Paper | 5 | $569–$5kSign up free to see | $1.1kSign up free to see |
| Prints | 2 | $60–$63Sign up free to see | $62Sign up free to see |
Top auction houses: Dreweatts (7), Toovey's (2), Chiswick Auctions (2)
Price guide: what is a work by Joshua Reynolds worth? →
Selling? How to sell a work by Joshua Reynolds: free estimate, costs and timeline →
Own a work by Joshua Reynolds? What’s it worth: compare similar past results by medium and size →
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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.
55 results · page 1 of 2
- Portrait of Nellie O'Brien, three-quarter length, leaning against a stone wall and wearing a pink and white dressAfter the artist£640≈ $857≈ €750Sign up free to see
- $60≈ £45≈ €53Sign up free to see
- £40,000≈ $53,256≈ €45,887Sign up free to see
- £65,000≈ $86,541≈ €74,566Sign up free to see
- The personification of peaceIn the manner of the artist£95≈ $128≈ €109Sign up free to see
- £15,000≈ $20,132≈ €17,198Sign up free to see
- £17,000≈ $22,816≈ €19,491Sign up free to see
- Belshazzar's FeastManner of the artist£2,560≈ $3,437≈ €2,928Sign up free to see
- Mrs. Sheridan As Saint CeciliaAfter the artist$200≈ £150≈ €171Sign up free to see
- UntitledCircle of the artist£12,000≈ $15,776≈ €13,630Sign up free to see
Also offered, result not published (3)
Lots by Joshua Reynolds that were offered at auction where the house did not publish whether they sold. Not counted in any statistics.
Joshua Reynolds paintings (9)Joshua Reynolds oil paintings (9)Joshua Reynolds works on paper (6)Joshua Reynolds drawings (3)
Joshua Reynolds: quick facts
What is the highest price paid for a work by Joshua Reynolds at auction?
$320,914Sign up free to see, for MRS HARTLEY AS A NYMPH WITH THE YOUNG BACCHUS at Lyon & Turnbull (January 2025) — the highest price in ArtSell’s records.
What is a typical auction price for Joshua Reynolds?
The median sale price is $5kSign up free to see across 15 priced sales. Prices vary by medium, size and date — see the price chart & statistics.
How many works by Joshua Reynolds have sold at auction?
15 of 18 recorded lots sold between 2008 and 2026. 3 further lots were offered with no published result and are not counted.
Which auction houses sell Joshua Reynolds?
Bonhams, Dreweatts and Brunk Auctions account for the most recorded results. Bonhams · Dreweatts · Brunk Auctions
About Joshua Reynolds
Sir Joshua Reynolds was an English painter who specialised in portraits. The art critic John Russell called him one of the major European painters of the 18th century, while Lucy Peltz says he was "the leading portrait artist of the 18th-century and arguably one of the greatest artists in the history of art." He promoted the "Grand Style" in painting, which depended on idealisation of the imperfect. He was a founder and first president of the Royal Academy of Arts and was knighted by George III in 1769. He has been referred to as the 'master who revolutionised British Art.'
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
In museum collections
The Metropolitan Museum of Art · CC0Captain George K. H. Coussmaker (1759–1801), 1782
The Metropolitan Museum of Art · CC0Lady Smith (Charlotte Delaval) and Her Children (George Henry, Louisa, and Charlotte), 1787
The Metropolitan Museum of Art · CC0Mrs. Lewis Thomas Watson (Mary Elizabeth Milles, 1767–1818), 1789
The Metropolitan Museum of Art · CC0