# Frederick Richard Pickersgill artist context and auction value notes

Canonical page: https://appraisily.com/artist/frederick-richard-pickersgill/
Profile generated: 2026-05-31T13:27:00.000Z
Quality: high confidence, strong sources

## Artist identity

- Birth date: 1820-09-25
- Death date: 1900-12-20
- Nationality: English, British
- Movements: Victorian painting
- Common media: Oil painting, Book illustration, Photography

## About Frederick Richard Pickersgill

Frederick Richard Pickersgill (1820–1900) was an English painter, book illustrator, and photographer active during the Victorian era. Born in London into a family of artists, he entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1840 and exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy from 1839 until 1875. His paintings frequently depicted scenes drawn from English literature, biblical narratives, and historical events, reflecting the Victorian taste for narrative and moral subject matter. Pickersgill also worked as a book illustrator, contributing imagery to published editions, and was recorded as a photographer by the RKD Netherlands Institute for Art History. He died on the Isle of Wight in December 1900. His work is held in public collections including the Tate, which maintains an artist record for him.

## Common works and media

Oil paintings on canvas depicting literary, religious, and historical scenes are the most frequently encountered works by Pickersgill. He also produced book illustrations for published editions and is recorded as having worked in photography. Works may range from large exhibition pieces shown at the Royal Academy to smaller cabinet-scale paintings and illustrative prints. Collectors may also encounter drawings and preparatory studies related to his painted compositions.

## Market and appraisal context

Pickersgill's works appear periodically at auction, primarily as Victorian-era narrative oil paintings and book illustrations. Collectors and appraisers should consider subject matter, canvas size, provenance, condition, and whether the work was exhibited at the Royal Academy. Literary and historical subjects are the most commonly encountered. As with many Victorian painters outside the first rank, values can vary considerably depending on quality, attribution certainty, and exhibition or publication history. Comparable auction results from major houses should be consulted for current market benchmarks.

## Appraisily data basis

Appraisily artist pages combine artist identity research from museum records, library authority files, and public collections with auction records, sale dates, realized prices, and comparable lots when those records are available. For Frederick Richard Pickersgill, identity data is supported by the Tate artist record, RKD Netherlands Institute for Art History, Getty ULAN, VIAF, and Wikidata.

## Sources

- RKD Netherlands Institute for Art History: https://rkd.nl/en/explore/artists/63323
- Tate: https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/frederick-richard-pickersgill-424
- VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/44573921/
- Getty Vocabulary Program: https://vocab.getty.edu/page/ulan/500021311
- Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1969921
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Richard_Pickersgill
- Library of Congress: https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/nr91007929