Robert Swain Gifford Auction Prices and Value Guide
Robert Swain Gifford auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 267 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Robert Swain Gifford auction prices: quick answer
Robert Swain Gifford auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Robert Swain Gifford
- Source records
- 267
- Market update
- 2026-02-06
Artist context
About Robert Swain Gifford
Robert Swain Gifford (1840–1905) was an American landscape painter born on Naushon Island, Massachusetts, and active in New York City. He is recognized for his atmospheric landscape compositions, which reflect the influence of the Barbizon school's emphasis on naturalistic tone and mood. Gifford was a member of the Society of American Artists, a group that championed progressive tendencies in American art during the late nineteenth century. His work spans oil painting and etching, with subjects drawn primarily from the American landscape tradition. Gifford's career coincided with a period when American collectors and institutions were increasingly interested in native landscape painting, and his paintings appeared in prominent exhibitions of the era. He died in New York City in 1905. Collectors today encounter his work through auction appearances and museum collections focused on nineteenth-century American art.
Barbizon school influenceOil paintingEtchingLandscape
Common works and media
Gifford's most commonly encountered works are oil-on-canvas landscape paintings, often depicting coastal, rural, or wooded scenes. Etchings and works on paper attributed to him also appear in auction and collection contexts. His subject matter centers on American landscape views, particularly scenes drawn from the New England coast and interior. Collectors may also encounter illustrations or reproductive prints associated with his career.
Market and appraisal context
Robert Swain Gifford's paintings appear in the 19th-century American art market, where landscape works by artists of his generation are sold at regional and national auction houses. Key factors that can affect appraisal include the painting's size, subject matter (coastal and New England landscapes are closely associated with his output), condition, provenance documentation, and exhibition or publication history. Works on paper, including etchings, may also surface. Comparable auction results for Barbizon-influenced American landscape painters of the period provide useful market context, though individual lots can vary widely based on quality and attribution certainty.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Common auction categories
- 19th-century American paintings
- Landscape paintings
Value drivers
- Provenance and exhibition history can significantly affect value for 19th-century American landscape painters
- Condition, canvas size, subject matter (particularly coastal or New England scenes), and attribution documentation are key appraisal considerations
- Membership in the Society of American Artists and Barbizon school association provide context for institutional interest
Appraisal caveats
- No specific auction records or realized prices are available in the collected source pack; market context is inferred from the artist's period, movement, and medium
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
- VIAF (OCLC) library authority
- Getty Vocabulary Program library authority
- Wikidata library authority
- Library of Congress library authority
- Wikipedia wikipedia
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 Robert Swain Gifford 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 Robert Swain Gifford artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.