# Herbert Thomas Dicksee artist context and auction value notes

Canonical page: https://appraisily.com/artist/herbert-thomas-dicksee/
Profile generated: 2026-05-03T02:19:52.483Z
Quality: high confidence, strong sources

## Artist identity

- Nationality: English, British
- Movements: Late Victorian and Edwardian animal painting tradition
- Common media: Oil painting, Etching, Lithography, Printmaking

## About Herbert Thomas Dicksee

Herbert Thomas Dicksee (1862–1942) was an English painter, etcher, and lithographer celebrated for his oil paintings of dogs, with a particular emphasis on the Scottish deerhound. Active during the late Victorian and Edwardian periods, Dicksee built a reputation for detailed, sympathetic portrayals that captured the character and physical presence of sporting and companion breeds. His most popular images were widely reproduced as prints and etchings by publishers such as Klackner of London, reaching a broad audience of animal enthusiasts. While canine subjects define his best-known work, Dicksee also produced depictions of other animals and sentimental genre scenes. His career is documented in standard reference works including Bénézit's Dictionnaire des Peintres and Johnson and Greutzner's Dictionary of British Artists, and his identity is recorded in the Getty Union List of Artist Names, VIAF, the Library of Congress Name Authority File, and the RKD Netherlands Institute for Art History.

## Common works and media

Oil paintings of dogs—particularly Scottish deerhounds—are Herbert Thomas Dicksee's most recognized works. Reproductive etchings and prints of his popular compositions were issued in quantity by Klackner of London and appear frequently at auction. Lithographs and other printed editions also circulate in the secondary market. Occasional works depict other animal subjects or sentimental genre scenes, though these are less commonly encountered than his canine portraits.

## Market and appraisal context

Herbert Thomas Dicksee's secondary market is well-established, with 288 auction lots recorded in the Appraisily database spanning 2001–2025 and 204 of those carrying realized prices. The price distribution is strongly skewed toward affordable prints: the interquartile range runs from $100 to $440, with a median of $225, reflecting the dominant presence of reproductive etchings, mezzotints, and lithographs rather than original oil paintings. The single highest recorded price is $8,500 CAD, likely an original work, while prints at the lower end have sold for as little as $10. Auction activity has slowed recently, with only 6 priced lots in the most recent 12-month window compared to 17 in the prior period, suggesting a modest contraction in liquidity. Major houses that have offered Dicksee lots include Christie's, Bonhams, and Forum Auctions, alongside a wide network of UK regional firms such as Gorringes, John Nicholson's, Bamfords, Mallams, Bellmans, Potteries Auctions, and Adam Partridge. US and international representation includes Neal Auction Company, Lion and Unicorn, Rivich Auction, and A. H. Wilkens in Canada. The breadth of houses and consistent turnover indicate a stable collector base for Dicksee prints, while original oils remain scarce and command materially higher prices when they appear.

## Auction-house-backed market evidence

Herbert Thomas Dicksee's secondary market is well-established, with 288 auction lots recorded in the Appraisily database spanning 2001–2025 and 204 of those carrying realized prices. The price distribution is strongly skewed toward affordable prints: the interquartile range runs from $100 to $440, with a median of $225, reflecting the dominant presence of reproductive etchings, mezzotints, and lithographs rather than original oil paintings. The single highest recorded price is $8,500 CAD, likely an original work, while prints at the lower end have sold for as little as $10. Auction activity has slowed recently, with only 6 priced lots in the most recent 12-month window compared to 17 in the prior period, suggesting a modest contraction in liquidity. Major houses that have offered Dicksee lots include Christie's, Bonhams, and Forum Auctions, alongside a wide network of UK regional firms such as Gorringes, John Nicholson's, Bamfords, Mallams, Bellmans, Potteries Auctions, and Adam Partridge. US and international representation includes Neal Auction Company, Lion and Unicorn, Rivich Auction, and A. H. Wilkens in Canada. The breadth of houses and consistent turnover indicate a stable collector base for Dicksee prints, while original oils remain scarce and command materially higher prices when they appear.

### Appraisal notes

An appraisal of a Herbert Thomas Dicksee work would use the Appraisily auction-record database to identify comparable lots by medium, subject, and sale venue. Because the market is dominated by reproductive prints, the first step is establishing whether a work is an original oil painting, an artist-signed etching, or a later commercial print reproduction. For prints, the appraiser would document pencil signature presence (versus plate-only signature), edition size or publisher markings (especially Klackner of London), paper condition, plate dimensions, and any titled inscriptions. For original oils, provenance and attribution become critical given the scarcity of authenticated paintings. Comparable lots from houses such as Bonhams, Christie's, and Forum Auctions provide the strongest value anchors for premium pieces, while regional UK house results are more relevant for standard prints. The appraiser would also account for currency differences (GBP, USD, CAD, AUD appear in the record set) and adjust for condition, framing, and market-trend shifts when placing a value.

### Valuation factors

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### Collector notes

- If you are considering buying or selling a Herbert Thomas Dicksee work, start by confirming whether it is an original oil painting or a reproductive print — this distinction dominates value. Signed etchings and mezzotints of his iconic deerhound and big-cat subjects are the most liquid segment of the market and typically sell in the $100–$400 range at UK regional auction houses. Expect slower turnover at the lower end; the recent 12-month count of 6 priced lots (down from 17 the prior year) suggests fewer offerings but does not necessarily indicate declining prices. For prints, look for pencil signatures, clear plate impressions, and Klackner publisher markings, which support both authenticity and resale value. Be cautious with later impressions and works catalogued as 'after' Dicksee, which trade at significant discounts. Original oil paintings are genuinely scarce; if you encounter one, seek a professional appraisal and verify provenance, as the price gap between an authenticated original and even a high-quality print is substantial.

### Market caveats

- The majority of the 288 recorded auction lots are reproductive prints (etchings, mezzotints, lithographs, engravings) rather than original oil paintings; the median price of $225 reflects the print market, not the painting market.
- The $8,500 CAD top price is a single outlier and may represent an original work; it should not be used as a benchmark for standard prints.
- Auction results span multiple currencies (USD, GBP, CAD, AUD) and the recorded prices are not currency-normalized; direct comparisons require conversion.
- Recent 12-month lot volume (6 priced) is significantly lower than the prior period (17 priced), which may reflect market softness, seasonal variation, or simply fewer consignments rather than a decline in per-lot value.
- Several lots in the recent sample lack source URLs and are drawn from the Appraisily aggregated record without independent verification of the listing details.
- Works attributed as 'after' Dicksee in auction catalogues are reproductive copies, not by the artist's hand, and should be valued accordingly.

### Market evidence sources

- Appraisily auction record index: https://appraisily.com/api/scraper-search/artists/herbert-thomas-dicksee/seo-profile?recentLimit=24&relatedLimit=0
- Invaluable / Lion and Unicorn: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-herbert-dicksee-aft-antique-color-lithograph-on-paper-271-c-e86451fa66
- Invaluable / Lion and Unicorn: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-herbert-dicksee-aft-antique-color-lithograph-on-paper-49-c-e304886875
- Invaluable / Lion and Unicorn: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-herbert-dicksee-aft-antique-color-lithograph-on-paper-276-c-462473b808
- Invaluable / Antique Arena Inc: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-antique-colored-etching-by-herbert-thomas-dicksee-20-c-b6c4cb7aad
- Invaluable / J. Garrett Auctioneers: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-herbert-dicksee-british-1862-1942-449-c-12843809d5

## Appraisily data basis

Appraisily artist pages combine artist identity research from authority files and scholarly references with auction records, auction-house context, sale dates, realized prices, and comparable lots when those records are available. For Herbert Thomas Dicksee, identity data is sourced from Wikidata, VIAF, the Getty Union List of Artist Names, the Library of Congress Name Authority File, and the RKD Netherlands Institute for Art History.

## Sources

- Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5733906
- VIAF (OCLC): https://viaf.org/viaf/230691925/
- RKD Netherlands Institute for Art History: https://rkd.nl/en/explore/artists/22558
- Getty Vocabulary Program: https://vocab.getty.edu/page/ulan/500029902
- Library of Congress: https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2018026236
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Dicksee