# Paul Dougherty artist context and auction value notes

Canonical page: https://appraisily.com/artist/paul-dougherty/
Profile generated: 2026-05-25T13:14:00.000Z
Quality: high confidence, strong sources

## Artist identity

- Nationality: American
- Movements: American Impressionism
- Common media: Oil painting, Printmaking, Sculpture

## About Paul Dougherty

Paul Hampden Dougherty (1877–1947) was an American painter best known for his powerful marine and coastal landscapes. Working within the tradition of American Impressionism, Dougherty built his reputation on bold, dynamic canvases depicting breakers crashing against the rocky shorelines of Maine and Cornwall. His work was noted for its vigorous, masculine energy and accomplished handling of sea and surf. Beyond his signature coastal scenes, Dougherty painted mountain landscapes, still lifes, and also produced prints and sculpture. His paintings are held in public collections including the Museum of Modern Art in New York. With over 240 works documented in auction records, Dougherty remains a recognizable figure among collectors of early twentieth-century American art.

## Common works and media

Dougherty's most commonly encountered works at auction are oil paintings of marine subjects, particularly scenes of waves breaking against coastal rocks. Mountain landscape paintings and floral still lifes also appear. His printmaking output is less well documented but includes graphic works. Sculptural works are the rarest category. Known titles from institutional records include Heavy Sea, California Cliffs, Boat Building in Sebasco Maine, Blue Bowl and Carnations, and Flood Tide.

## Market and appraisal context

Paul Dougherty's work appears regularly at auction, with marine and coastal oil paintings being the most commonly encountered category. Dramatic compositions of crashing surf against rocky headlands tend to attract the strongest collector interest. His Maine and Cornwall subjects are the most frequently seen at sale. Prints and sculptures by Dougherty also surface but are less common than paintings. Collectors and appraisers should consider provenance, condition, dimensions, and whether a work carries gallery or exhibition labels. Comparable auction results for similar marine subjects from the same period provide useful valuation context. As with many American Impressionist painters, attribution should be confirmed through recognized expertise or documented provenance.

## Appraisily data basis

This Appraisily artist page combines verified identity data from Getty ULAN, VIAF, Wikidata, and the Library of Congress authority files with biographical context from encyclopedic sources. Appraisily's auction records, including sale dates, realized prices, comparable lots, and provenance notes, supplement this research when available. Collectors are encouraged to review individual lot records for specific valuation evidence.

## Sources

- Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1008673
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Dougherty_(artist)
- Getty Vocabulary Program: https://vocab.getty.edu/page/ulan/500028111
- VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/61438448/
- Library of Congress: https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/nr95037629
- The Museum of Modern Art: https://www.moma.org/artists/34886
- RKD - Netherlands Institute for Art History: https://rkd.nl/en/explore/artists/24007