George Morland Auction Prices and Value Guide
George Morland auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 1,709 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
George Morland auction prices: quick answer
George Morland auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- George Morland
- Source records
- 1,709
- Market update
- 2026-02-06
Artist context
About George Morland
George Morland (1763–1804) was an English painter, printmaker, and watercolorist remembered for lively rustic genre scenes depicting farm life, hunting, smugglers, and rural landscapes. Born in London to the artist Henry Robert Morland, he trained under his father, copying works by Paulus Potter, Joseph Vernet, and Thomas Gainsborough before developing his own distinctive style in the 1790s. His mature compositions drew heavily on the Dutch Golden Age tradition, combining richly textured landscapes with empathetic portrayals of rural labourers, travellers, and animals. Morland was remarkably prolific; the RKD records nearly 1,800 images attributed to him. His brother-in-law William Ward engraved many of his paintings, greatly extending their reach. Despite a short career—he died at forty-one—Morland's work remained popular with collectors and influenced British genre painting into the nineteenth century.
Late 18th-century British genre paintingInformed by Dutch Golden Age painting traditionoil paintingwatercolorpastelprintmakingrustic and pastoral scenesfarm life and animalshunting scenessmugglers and coastal scenes
Common works and media
Original oil paintings on canvas or panel form the core of Morland's market, particularly pastoral landscapes, stable interiors, coastal smuggling scenes, and hunting compositions. He also produced watercolors, pastels, and drawings. A large body of reproductive engravings—many executed by William Ward and other printmakers—circulates widely and represents an accessible entry point for collectors. Miniature paintings are occasionally attributed to him. Works are typically unsigned or bear the monogram GM.
Market and appraisal context
George Morland maintains an active and well-established secondary market spanning over 25 years of recorded auction activity, with 549 total lots catalogued and 351 carrying realized prices. His work trades regularly at major international and regional houses including Christie's, Sotheby's, Bonhams, Dreweatts, Sworders, Cheffins, and Roseberys. The price distribution is wide—from $5 for reproductive prints to $37,500 for premium oils—reflecting the broad spectrum of media that circulate under his name. Original oil paintings of characteristic subjects (hunting scenes, smuggling narratives, pastoral landscapes with animals) cluster in the £1,000–£5,500 / $1,000–$10,000 range, while works described as 'after,' 'attributed,' or 'in the manner of' Morland typically realise under $500. Prints and engravings after his compositions trade between $20 and $200. Liquidity is stable, with 25 priced lots in the most recent 12-month period versus 24 in the prior period, indicating consistent collector demand. The large volume of workshop copies, follower works, and reproductive prints means that a significant portion of lots appearing at auction are not by Morland's own hand, which compresses the lower end of the distribution and makes attribution the single most consequential factor for valuation.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Common auction categories
- Old Master Paintings
- British Art
- Prints and Multiples
- Works on Paper
- Oil Painting
Value drivers
- Attribution to Morland vs. workshop or follower; many copies and engravings after his compositions circulate
- Medium distinction: original oil paintings command significantly more than prints or engravings after his work
- Condition and provenance are critical; Morland's prolific output and the many reproductive prints complicate attribution
- Subject matter: hunting scenes, coastal smuggling subjects, and animal paintings tend to be more sought after
- Large corpus of over 1,700 auction records indicates an active and established secondary market
- Attribution certainty is the primary driver: fully attributed original oils by Morland command multiples of works described as 'attributed to,' 'after,' 'manner of,' or 'circle of' Morland. Recent auction data confirms this gap—attributed works realise under $500 while signed originals reach $3,000–$10,000.
Appraisal caveats
- Morland was extremely prolific and his compositions were widely reproduced as engravings by contemporaries including his brother-in-law William Ward; collectors should verify whether a work is an original painting, an original print, or a later reproductive engraving.
- Death date sources conflict: the Library of Congress records 27 October 1804, while RKD and Wikipedia record 29 October 1804.
- RKD lists birth year as either 1762 or 1763; Library of Congress and majority consensus favor 1763.
- The Getty ULAN record was unavailable at collection time and could not be consulted.
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- Wikidata library authority
- Wikipedia wikipedia
- VIAF library authority
- Library of Congress library authority
- RKD (Netherlands Institute for Art History) library authority
- Getty Vocabulary Program library authority
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.
Artist value FAQ
How much is George Morland 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 George Morland artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.