John Phillip Auction Prices and Value Guide
John Phillip auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 370 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
John Phillip auction prices: quick answer
John Phillip auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- John Phillip
- Source records
- 370
- Market update
- 2026-02-16
Artist context
About John Phillip
John Phillip (1817–1867) was a Scottish painter born in Aberdeen who became one of the most distinctive Victorian-era genre artists. After training in London, a pivotal trip to Spain in 1851 redirected his career toward vivid depictions of Spanish daily life, customs, and street scenes — work that earned him the lasting nickname 'John Spanish Phillip.' His richly coloured, narrative-driven canvases attracted major patrons and royal attention during his lifetime. Tate holds works by Phillip in its collection, and his paintings continue to appear at international auction. Collectors encounter his work across British, European, and Spanish-subject categories, where his cross-cultural perspective sets him apart from contemporaries who remained focused on domestic subjects.
Victorian genre paintingoil paintingSpanish life and customsgenre scenes
Common works and media
Phillip worked primarily in oil on canvas. His most recognisable works are multi-figure Spanish genre scenes — street musicians, market vendors, tavern interiors, and religious processions painted with warm tonalities and strong narrative detail. Earlier works include Scottish and English domestic subjects. RKD records 154 image hits for the artist, and the Tate collection holds representative examples. Works on paper and preparatory studies surface occasionally at auction but are far less common than finished paintings.
Market and appraisal context
Phillip's auction profile is anchored by his Spanish-genre oils, which dominate his post-1851 output and tend to attract the strongest collector interest. His works appear regularly in Victorian painting sales and broader 19th-century British art categories at major houses. Valuation depends on subject complexity, provenance clarity, condition, and whether a work falls within the celebrated Spanish period. Earlier Scottish and English domestic scenes are less common at auction. With over 370 recorded lot appearances, Phillip maintains a measurable secondary-market presence, though prices vary widely by size, quality, and subject.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Appraisal caveats
- The 370 recorded auction appearances on Invaluable suggest a moderately active secondary market, but no specific price ranges can be cited from the available source pack
- Death place is uncertain (Rome, London, or Campden per RKD), which may complicate some provenance narratives
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- Wikidata library authority
- Wikipedia wikipedia
- Getty Vocabulary Program library authority
- VIAF library authority
- Library of Congress library authority
- Tate museum or university
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 Phillip 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 Phillip artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.