Francis Danby Auction Prices and Value Guide

Francis Danby auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 205 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Francis Danby auction prices: quick answer

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

Artist
Francis Danby
Source records
205
Market update
2026-02-06

Artist context

About Francis Danby

Francis Danby (1793–1861) was an Irish painter associated with the Romantic movement, best known for his dramatic, atmospheric landscapes and imaginative biblical scenes. Born in Wexford, Ireland, Danby developed his distinctive style as the central figure in the Bristol School, an informal group of artists active in southwest England in the 1810s and 1820s. His large-scale, visionary landscapes drew comparisons to the work of John Martin. Danby relocated to London, where his career reached its peak in the 1820s with major exhibition successes at the Royal Academy and the British Institution. Later he spent extended periods in continental Europe before settling in Exmouth, Devon, where he died in 1861. His work is held in major public collections including Tate and the Museum of Modern Art, New York.

RomanticismBristol Schooloil paintingwatercolorlandscapebiblical and historical scenesmarine subjectsgenre painting

Common works and media

Danby worked primarily in oil on canvas, producing expansive landscape compositions, dramatic seascapes, and imaginative biblical and historical scenes. He also painted in watercolor and produced preparatory drawings. Typical subjects include panoramic mountain vistas, storm-lit coastal views, pastoral genre scenes, and Old Testament narratives rendered on a monumental scale. Works range from small cabinet paintings to large exhibition-scale canvases measuring several feet across.

Market and appraisal context

Francis Danby's work appears regularly at auction, with over 200 recorded lots spanning oil paintings, watercolors, and drawings. Large Romantic landscape oils and biblical compositions tend to attract the strongest collector interest. When evaluating a Danby work, provenance, exhibition history, condition (particularly any relining or restoration of early 19th-century canvases), and secure attribution are the primary factors. Works from his productive Bristol and London periods are generally more sought after than later continental pieces. Collectors should note that attribution can be challenging within the broader Bristol School output.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Value drivers

  1. Subject matter: dramatic Romantic landscapes and biblical scenes command the strongest demand
  2. Provenance: works with documented exhibition history (Royal Academy, British Institution) carry a premium
  3. Condition: large-scale oil paintings should be assessed for relining, overpainting, and craquelure typical of early 19th-century British canvases
  4. Attribution: works from the Bristol period may be confused with other Bristol School artists; expert connoisseurship is recommended
  5. Medium distinction: oil paintings generally achieve higher prices than watercolors or drawings

Appraisal caveats

  • Market data reflects 205 recorded auction appearances; actual prices realized vary widely by size, subject, condition, and provenance.
  • No single authoritative catalogue raisonné is cited in available sources; attribution should be confirmed with current scholarship.

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 Francis Danby

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Francis Danby 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 Francis Danby artwork?

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