James Burrell Smith Auction Prices and Value Guide

James Burrell Smith auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 259 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

James Burrell Smith auction prices: quick answer

James Burrell Smith auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.

Artist
James Burrell Smith
Source records
259
Market update
2026-02-16

Artist context

About James Burrell Smith

James Burrell Smith (1822–1897) was a British watercolourist and landscape painter associated with the Victorian tradition of topographical and scenic watercolour art. Born in London, he moved to Alnwick, Northumberland in 1843 to study under the landscape painter Thomas Miles Richardson, whose influence shaped his focus on natural scenery. Smith travelled widely across Britain and continental Europe, producing views of rivers, coastlines, and rural landscapes. During the 1880s he also contributed engravings to The Illustrated London News. His work is documented in standard reference works including Bénézit's Dictionnaire, Mallalieu's Dictionary of British Watercolour Artists, and the Witt Checklist of Artists. Collectors most often encounter his watercolours of British and European landscape subjects at regional and national auction houses.

Victorian landscape watercolour traditionwatercolourengravinglandscaperiver landscapecoastal views

Common works and media

The most commonly encountered works are watercolour landscapes on paper, typically depicting river scenes, coastal views, and rural British or European countryside. Subjects often include identifiable topographical locations in Northumberland, the Lake District, Scotland, and continental Europe. Smaller-format watercolours and studies appear alongside more ambitious exhibited works. Period engravings produced for The Illustrated London News represent a distinct category that also surfaces in the market.

Market and appraisal context

James Burrell Smith's works appear regularly at auction, with over 250 recorded lots, primarily watercolour landscapes of British and European scenery. Valuation depends on condition of the paper support, the specificity and appeal of the location depicted, size, and the quality of the watercolour technique. Works with strong topographical interest or recognizable views tend to attract more competitive bidding. Signed or well-documented pieces carry a clear advantage. Engravings from The Illustrated London News exist as a separate category with different collecting appeal. Buyers should verify attribution carefully, as the name Smith is shared by several Victorian-era watercolourists.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Appraisal caveats

  • No single-owner catalogue raisonné is referenced in available sources, so attribution should be confirmed against published dictionaries and comparative works
  • Condition of Victorian watercolours on paper can vary significantly; foxing, fading, and mount burn affect value
  • The artist is sometimes confused with other Victorian-era Smith watercolourists; signature and style verification are recommended

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 James Burrell Smith

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is James Burrell Smith 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 James Burrell Smith artwork?

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