What is a William Dobell painting worth?
1899–1970 · Price guide from past auction results
Based on 141 priced auction sales, works by William Dobell have sold for a median of $7,299Sign up free to see. Half of them sold between $1,059Sign up free to see and $27,132Sign up free to see. For paintings alone, the median is $23,136Sign up free to see across 80 sales. In the last five years the median was $1,623Sign up free to see across 70 sales. These are past auction results, not a valuation: medium, size, condition and provenance all change what a particular work brings.
Thinking of selling? How to sell a William Dobell painting: process, costs and recent prices →
William Dobell prices by medium
- Auction results
- 173
- Sold rate
- 82%
- Active at auction
- 2009–2026
- Median price
- $7.3kSign up free to see
- Record price
- $825kSign up free to see The Dead Landlord (1936), Smith & Singer, Aug 2019
| Medium | Priced sales | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 80 | $9.2k–$42.7kSign up free to see | $23.1kSign up free to see |
| Works on Paper | 60 | $392–$2.5kSign up free to see | $886Sign up free to see |
Top auction houses: Smith & Singer (55), Menzies (52), Davidson Auctions (51)
Need an appraisal for insurance? Request a written William Dobell appraisal →
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) | 97 | $756–$14.6kSign up free to see | $3.8kSign up free to see |
| Mid-size (30–75 cm) | 32 | $3.6k–$38kSign up free to see | $20.4kSign up free to see |
| Large (75–150 cm) | 10 | $39.3k–$175kSign up free to see | $74.1kSign up free to see |
Recent William Dobell sales
- Creek at Lake Macquarie, oil on board — $10,473Sign up free to see, Leonard Joel, Oct 6, 2026
- Army Recruits Training and Builders c., pencil, pen and ink on paper — $505Sign up free to see, Leonard Joel, Sep 8, 2026
- Festival (circa 1936), oil on board — $22,825Sign up free to see, Smith & Singer, Aug 25, 2026
- Drunken Bridesmaids (1936), oil on canvas on board — $18,436Sign up free to see, Smith & Singer, Aug 25, 2026
- Stormy Day at Wangi, Oil on Board — $4,892Sign up free to see, Davidson Auctions, Jul 26, 2026
- Male Nude, pencil on paper — $323Sign up free to see, Leonard Joel, Jun 2, 2026
- Oxen, pencil on paper — $862Sign up free to see, Leonard Joel, Jun 2, 2026
- Portrait of Sir Leon Trout c1959, oil on board — $37,406Sign up free to see, Menzies, May 7, 2026
Questions about William Dobell prices
What is a William Dobell painting worth?
Based on 141 priced auction sales recorded by ArtSell, works by William Dobell have sold for a median of $7,299, and half of them sold between $1,059 and $27,132. For paintings alone the median is $23,136 (80 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 William Dobell sold at auction?
The highest price in ArtSell’s records is $825,428 for “The Dead Landlord (1936)” at Smith & Singer in August 2019.
Which William Dobell medium sells for the most?
By median price, paintings lead with $23,136 (80 sales).
How often do William Dobell works sell at auction?
82% of the 173 lots recorded between 2009 and 2026 sold.
How can I sell a William Dobell painting?
Request a free auction estimate on ArtSell: send photos and details, and our specialists will reply with an estimate. There is no obligation.
ArtSell has recorded 173 auction results for William Dobell between 2009 and 2026, and 141 of them sold (82%).
Sell a William Dobell paintingAll William Dobell auction resultsPrice chartWilliam Dobell paintingsWilliam Dobell works on paperFree auction estimate