Daniel Maclise Auction Prices and Value Guide

Daniel Maclise auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 478 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Daniel Maclise auction prices: quick answer

Daniel Maclise auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.

Artist
Daniel Maclise
Source records
478
Market update
2026-02-06

Artist context

About Daniel Maclise

Daniel Maclise (1806–1870) was an Irish painter, illustrator, and printmaker who became one of the leading history painters of Victorian Britain. Born in Cork, Ireland, he moved to London in 1827 and enrolled at the Royal Academy of Arts, where he won early prizes for his draftsmanship. A portrait sketch of Sir Walter Scott, drawn when the novelist visited Cork in 1825, helped launch his reputation. Maclise became celebrated for large-scale historical and literary subjects, most notably his monumental fresco murals in the Palace of Westminster—The Death of Nelson and The Meeting of Wellington and Blücher. He also produced illustrations for Shakespeare editions and was a sought-after portraitist of Victorian public figures. Elected a Royal Academician in 1840, Maclise moved in literary circles that included Charles Dickens. His work bridges the traditions of academic history painting and Victorian literary illustration, and his influence extended across painting, printmaking, and book design.

Victorian paintingHistory paintingoil paintingwatercolorlithographyengravinghistorical scenesliterary subjectsportraitsnaval and military subjects

Common works and media

Maclise worked across oil painting, watercolor, lithography, engraving, and book illustration. Works commonly encountered in the market include oil paintings of historical and literary subjects, portrait paintings and drawings of Victorian-era figures, book illustrations for literary editions (notably Shakespeare), lithographic prints—sometimes signed Alfred Croquis—and preparatory studies and sketches related to his Palace of Westminster mural commissions.

Market and appraisal context

Daniel Maclise's work appears at auction in categories spanning British and Victorian paintings, Old Master works on paper, prints, and illustration art. Finished oil paintings of historical and literary subjects tend to achieve the strongest results, while drawings, watercolors, and lithographic prints offer more accessible price points. Key valuation factors include medium (oil versus work on paper), subject matter—with naval and military themes being particularly desirable—provenance, condition, and any documented exhibition history. Collectors should be aware that Maclise sometimes used the pseudonym Alfred Croquis, and variant spellings of his surname appear in older catalog records, which can complicate attribution research.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Value drivers

  1. Finished oil paintings of historical or literary subjects command the strongest results
  2. Preparatory studies and drawings for Westminster murals carry premium due to documented provenance
  3. Medium distinction matters: oils versus watercolors, prints, or drawings significantly affect value
  4. Naval and military subjects (Nelson, Wellington) are particularly sought by collectors
  5. Provenance linking to notable Victorian collections or exhibitions adds value
  6. Attribution can be complicated by use of pseudonym Alfred Croquis and variant surname spellings

Appraisal caveats

  • Maclise used the pseudonym Alfred Croquis for some illustrations; works signed under this name may not be immediately recognized as by Maclise.
  • Variant spellings of his surname (McLise, McClise, McLeish, M'Clise) appear in older records and can complicate catalog searches.
  • No published catalogue raisonné was identified in the source pack; attribution should be cross-referenced with RKD and Royal Academy records.

Evidence

Sources for artist context

This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.

Source-grounded artist Markdown

Data basis

This page is built from Appraisily's public auction market index. Private transactions, incomplete sale feeds, and attribution changes may not be fully represented.

LLM-readable Markdown summary for Daniel Maclise

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Daniel Maclise worth?

Comparable public auction sales are the best starting point, but final value depends on the specific artwork, condition, size, medium, provenance, and attribution confidence.

Can Appraisily value my Daniel Maclise artwork?

Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.