Morton Kunstler Auction Prices and Value Guide
Morton Kunstler auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 670 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Morton Kunstler auction prices: quick answer
Morton Kunstler auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Morton Kunstler
- Source records
- 670
- Market update
- 2026-02-06
Artist context
About Morton Kunstler
Morton "Mort" Künstler (1931–2025) was an American painter and illustrator celebrated for his vivid depictions of American historical events, particularly Civil War battle scenes. Recognized as a child prodigy, Künstler developed formidable drafting and painting skills by his early teens and went on to build a career spanning illustration, magazine artwork, movie posters, and fine art. Over decades he became widely regarded as one of the country's foremost historical painters, with his Civil War series earning particular acclaim for narrative drama and period accuracy. His work is documented in major library authority files including the Library of Congress, Getty ULAN, and VIAF, confirming his standing as a significant figure in American illustrative art.
American historical illustrationOil paintingIllustrationAmerican Civil WarAmerican historical events
Common works and media
Künstler's body of work includes original oil paintings of Civil War battles and American historical scenes, limited-edition signed prints, commercial illustrations for magazines and books, movie poster art, and poster reproductions. Civil War subjects dominate his most recognized output. Collectors most frequently encounter his signed limited-edition prints and original paintings at auction.
Market and appraisal context
Appraisily's auction-record index tracks four lots for Morton Kunstler spanning April 2022 through February 2026, three of which carry realized prices. Two similar untitled oil paintings sold at Broward Auction Gallery LLC in mid-2022 for $1,350 and $1,400, while a titled Civil War scene — "Dilger at Gettysburg" — realized $7,000 at Neue Auctions in February 2026. The gap between mid-2022 and early 2026 suggests thin but recurring liquidity. The sharp step from ~$1,400 to $7,000 likely reflects subject-matter premium (a named Gettysburg composition versus a generic oil), differences in size and finish quality, and possibly growing posthumous attention following Künstler's death in 2025. Only one lot appeared in the most recent 12-month window, indicating limited but not absent market activity.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Common auction categories
- Oil painting
- Illustration
- American historical art
Value drivers
- [object Object]
Appraisal caveats
- Mort Künstler produced a large body of work across illustration, magazine covers, movie posters, and fine art paintings; not all works carry the same market interest.
- Prints and reproductions are abundant and should be distinguished from original paintings.
- The source pack does not include specific auction-house records; comparable sale data should be consulted for current appraisal purposes.
- The auction-record index contains only four lots, three with realized prices. This is a thin dataset; statistical measures (median, quartiles) should be interpreted cautiously.
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
- RKD — Netherlands Institute for Art History 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 Morton Kunstler 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 Morton Kunstler artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.