Robert Vickrey Auction Prices and Value Guide
Robert Vickrey 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.
Robert Vickrey auction prices: quick answer
Robert Vickrey auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Robert Vickrey
- Source records
- 279
- Market update
- 2026-02-16
Artist context
About Robert Vickrey
Robert Remsen Vickrey (1926–2011) was an American painter and author celebrated for his mastery of egg tempera, an ancient painting medium he revived in the twentieth century. Born in New York City and later based in Massachusetts, Vickrey became one of the most distinctive voices in American Magic Realism. His compositions transform everyday scenes into surreal, dreamlike visions: nuns passing before mural-painted walls, bicycles casting long shadows at sunset, and children at play in strangely luminous spaces. His work has been linked to the post-war Magic Realist movement in the United States, and his paintings are held in numerous public and private collections. Collectors and curators recognize Vickrey for the haunting atmosphere and meticulous technique that define his egg tempera panels.
Magic RealismEgg temperaNunsBicyclesChildren at playMural-painted brick walls
Common works and media
Vickrey is most commonly encountered in appraisal contexts as egg tempera paintings on panel, often depicting nuns, children, bicycles, or urban street scenes with a dreamlike or surreal quality. He also worked in watercolor and produced prints. His genre scenes frequently feature strong chiaroscuro effects and elongated shadows. Collectors may also encounter reproduced illustrations from his career as an author and illustrator.
Market and appraisal context
Robert Vickrey's works appear at auction primarily as egg tempera paintings on panel, the medium for which he is best known. His signature subject matter—nuns, bicycles, and children rendered in surreal, light-filled compositions—tends to draw stronger collector interest. Factors that can affect appraisal include the painting's medium (egg tempera works are most characteristic), subject, provenance, condition of the tempera panel, exhibition history, and whether the work dates from his most active period. Attributed works in other media such as watercolor or prints may carry different market weight. Public auction records and comparable sales should be consulted for current valuation.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Common auction categories
- Post-War American Paintings
Value drivers
- Medium is significant: Vickrey's egg tempera paintings are his most recognized works
- Subject matter such as nuns, bicycles, and children in dreamlike settings are characteristic and desirable
- Association with the Magic Realism movement may affect collector interest
Appraisal caveats
- No major auction-house records were available in the source pack; auction performance should be verified via specialized databases.
- Attribution should be confirmed as Vickrey worked in a distinctive but specialized medium that may be mimicked or misattributed.
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
- 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 Robert Vickrey 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 Vickrey artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.