John Opie Auction Prices and Value Guide
John Opie auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 279 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
John Opie auction prices: quick answer
John Opie auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- John Opie
- Source records
- 279
- Market update
- 2026-02-16
Artist context
About John Opie
John Opie (1761–1807) was an English painter renowned for portraits and historical subjects during the late Georgian era. Born in Saint Agnes, Cornwall, and baptized in May 1761, Opie rose from modest rural origins to become one of the most sought-after portraitists in London, painting prominent figures of his day including members of the British royal family and leading names in the arts and literature. His work drew wide attention for its direct, unidealized realism, and he was elected a Royal Academician in 1787. The RKD Netherlands Institute for Art History records him as an illustrator, painter, and draftsperson, and his works are held in major public collections including Tate. Opie died in London on 9 April 1807, leaving a body of work that bridges the worlds of provincial British painting and the London art establishment.
British portrait painting, late 18th centuryOil paintingDrawingIllustrationPortraitsHistorical scenesRoyal family and society figures
Common works and media
Opie's output spans oil portraits (single-figure and group compositions), historical and literary scene paintings, portrait drawings, and book illustrations. His most commonly encountered works at auction are oil-on-canvas portraits of named sitters, often in three-quarter or half-length format. He also produced smaller-scale historical subjects and was active as an illustrator. Works on paper, including preparatory sketches and finished drawings, appear less frequently but are documented in the RKD collections.
Market and appraisal context
John Opie's works appear at auction primarily within Old Master Paintings and British Art sales. Portraits of identifiable, historically prominent sitters generally attract stronger interest than anonymous or genre subjects. As with many late-18th-century British painters, provenance documentation, condition reports, and secure attribution are central to appraisal. Opie's paintings have on occasion been confused with those of his contemporaries, so expert connoisseurship may be required. Collectors should also consider whether a work is a finished cabinet painting, a full-scale portrait, or a preparatory drawing, as medium and scale significantly influence value. Comparable public auction records should be consulted for current pricing context.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Common auction categories
- Old Master Paintings
- British Art
- Portrait Miniatures and Drawings
Value drivers
- Provenance and documented exhibition history can significantly affect value
- Portraits of identifiable sitters, particularly notable historical figures, tend to command higher prices than anonymous subjects
- Attribution should be confirmed as works were sometimes misattributed to contemporaries such as Joshua Reynolds or Thomas Gainsborough
- Condition, canvas size, and whether the work is a preparatory study or finished painting affect appraisal
Appraisal caveats
- No auction price records were available in the collected source pack; appraisal should reference live comparable sale databases for current market data
- Opie's nickname 'The Cornish Wonder' is widely reported but could not be confirmed from a Tier 1 source in this pack
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- Wikidata library authority
- Getty Vocabulary Program library authority
- VIAF library authority
- Tate museum or university
- RKD Netherlands Institute for Art History 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 John Opie 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 John Opie artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.