Herbert James Gunn Auction Prices and Value Guide
Herbert James Gunn auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 199 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Herbert James Gunn auction prices: quick answer
Herbert James Gunn auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Herbert James Gunn
- Source records
- 199
- Market update
- 2026-02-06
Artist context
About Herbert James Gunn
Sir Herbert James Gunn (1893–1964) was a Scottish painter celebrated for his refined portraits and landscapes. Born in Glasgow, he studied briefly at the Glasgow School of Art before continuing at the Edinburgh College of Art and the Académie Julian in Paris. By 1920 he had established himself in London, where he built a distinguished career painting leading figures of British public life. Gunn's sitters included royalty — most notably Queen Elizabeth II, whose coronation portrait he painted — as well as academics, judges, and statesmen. He was elected a Royal Academician and a member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, and was knighted for his services to art. His work is held in the Tate collection and other public institutions. Collectors encounter Gunn's paintings primarily through portrait commissions and landscape subjects that reflect his classical training and restrained, observational style.
British portraiture tradition, early 20th centuryoil paintingdrawingportraiturelandscaperoyal and state commissions
Common works and media
Gunn's output is dominated by commissioned oil-on-canvas portraits, ranging from head-and-shoulders studies to full-length state portraits. Notable examples include his coronation portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and the widely reproduced Pauline in the Yellow Dress. He also produced landscape paintings in oil, often depicting Scottish and English countryside scenes. Drawings and preparatory studies in graphite and charcoal exist in institutional collections. His work is not associated with editioned prints or sculpture. Portrait subjects span royalty, aristocracy, academics, members of the judiciary, and military figures.
Market and appraisal context
Herbert James Gunn's work appears at auction primarily as oil portraits of identifiable British sitters, a category where provenance and sitter identity materially influence value. His royal commissions and portraits of prominent public figures carry the strongest institutional and collector interest. Landscape paintings by Gunn are less common in the market and can offer comparative value. Collectors and appraisers should consider sitter identification, condition, exhibition history, and whether a portrait retains its original commission provenance. With nearly 200 documented auction appearances, Gunn maintains a consistent secondary-market presence. Attribution should be confirmed through style analysis and, where possible, comparison with signed or institutionally held works.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Value drivers
- Portrait commissions of named sitters (royalty, aristocracy, academics, legal figures) command premium at auction
- Royal portraits, especially the coronation portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, are culturally significant and sought after
- Provenance linking to notable sitters or institutional collections increases value
- Landscape subjects by Gunn appear less frequently and may offer comparative value
Appraisal caveats
- No major auction-house biography or sale result was available in the source pack; market context is inferred from the artist's documented body of work and institutional recognition.
- The 199 auction records in the Appraisily database suggest a meaningful secondary-market presence, but specific realized prices were not available in this research pass.
- Condition, attribution verification, and provenance documentation are particularly important for portraits where the sitter's identity affects value.
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- RKD Netherlands Institute for Art History library authority
- Tate museum or university
- Wikidata library authority
- VIAF library authority
- Getty Vocabulary Program library authority
- Library of Congress 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 Herbert James Gunn 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 Herbert James Gunn artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.