William Dargie Auction Prices and Value Guide

William Dargie auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 197 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

William Dargie auction prices: quick answer

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

Artist
William Dargie
Source records
197
Market update
2026-02-06

Artist context

About William Dargie

Sir William Alexander Dargie (1912–2003) was an Australian painter celebrated as one of the country's foremost portraitists. Born on 4 June 1912, he achieved national prominence through a distinguished career spanning decades. Dargie holds the record for winning the Archibald Prize—Australia's premier award for portraiture—on eight separate occasions, a feat unmatched since 1952. Appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.) and knighted for his services to art, Dargie painted many of Australia's most prominent public figures during the mid-twentieth century. His work is grounded in a realist tradition, emphasizing careful observation and technical control. Collectors and institutions seeking examples of Australian portraiture from this era frequently encounter Dargie's paintings at auction and in public gallery collections.

Australian realismoil on canvasportraitureportraitsAustralian public figures

Common works and media

Dargie is most commonly encountered in appraisal and auction contexts as an oil-on-canvas portrait painter. Works include formal commissioned portraits of public figures, military officers, and civic leaders, as well as self-portraits and landscape subjects. His paintings are typically medium to large format. Original oil paintings are the primary collectible medium; prints and reproductions of his Archibald Prize works also circulate but carry significantly less value.

Market and appraisal context

William Dargie's paintings appear regularly in Australian and international auction markets. His Archibald Prize-winning works and portraits of notable sitters command the strongest collector interest. Value is influenced by the identity and prominence of the portrait subject, whether the work has documented exhibition history, canvas size, condition, and the completeness of provenance records. Attribution should be verified through signature examination and provenance documentation, as Dargie's style is representative of mid-century Australian academic portraiture and may resemble contemporaries in the same school.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Value drivers

  1. Archibald Prize provenance significantly affects value
  2. Portrait subject identity and sitter prominence influence auction interest
  3. Condition, provenance chain, and exhibition history are standard valuation factors for mid-century Australian paintings
  4. Knighted status and C.B.E. honour add historical significance to provenance documentation

Appraisal caveats

  • Market records for Australian portrait painters of this period vary widely based on sitter importance, canvas size, and exhibition history
  • Attribution should be confirmed through provenance documentation or expert appraisal of signature and style

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 William Dargie

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is William Dargie 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 William Dargie artwork?

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