Thomas Buttersworth Auction Prices and Value Guide

Thomas Buttersworth auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 341 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Thomas Buttersworth auction prices: quick answer

Thomas Buttersworth auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.

Artist
Thomas Buttersworth
Source records
341
Market update
2026-02-06

Artist context

About Thomas Buttersworth

Thomas Buttersworth (1768-1842) was an English marine painter who served as a seaman during the Napoleonic Wars before turning to art. Born in London and baptized on 6 May 1768, he drew on direct naval experience to depict ship-to-ship engagements, fleet actions, and individual vessel portraits with an eyewitness quality that distinguishes his work from studio-trained contemporaries. His canvases record major events including the Battle of Trafalgar, the capture of the USS President, and the action off Pulo Aor in 1804. He worked primarily on commission and was seldom exhibited during his lifetime, yet his paintings have become staples of the British maritime art market. With over 340 recorded auction appearances, his work remains accessible to collectors of naval and maritime art.

British marine paintingoil on canvaswatercolornaval battlesship portraitsmaritime scenesNapoleonic Wars engagements

Common works and media

Oil-on-canvas naval battle scenes and ship portraits form the bulk of Buttersworth's known output. Common subjects include British warships under sail, frigate actions, storm scenes, harbor entries, and specific engagements such as Trafalgar and the War of 1812 actions. Watercolors and drawings also appear, though less frequently at auction. Works are typically modest in scale, suited to private commission rather than public exhibition.

Market and appraisal context

Buttersworth's paintings appear regularly at auction, especially in Old Master and maritime art sales. Works depicting well-documented naval engagements from the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812 tend to attract the strongest interest. Provenance, subject significance, vessel identification, condition, and secure attribution all influence value. Collectors should note that his son James Edward Buttersworth was also a prolific marine painter, and works by the two are sometimes confused. Proper attribution, supported by stylistic analysis and documented provenance, is an important factor in any appraisal.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Appraisal caveats

  • Attribution should be carefully verified, as Thomas Buttersworth's style overlaps with his son James Edward Buttersworth and other British marine painters of the period
  • The artist worked largely to private commission and was not widely exhibited in his lifetime, which can make provenance documentation uneven
  • RKD notes a possible migration to the United States around 1812-1815, which may affect provenance chains for works from that period

Evidence

Sources for artist context

This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.

Source-grounded artist Markdown

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.

LLM-readable Markdown summary for Thomas Buttersworth

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Thomas Buttersworth 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 Thomas Buttersworth artwork?

Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.