William Wetmore Story Paintings & Artwork for Sale | William Wetmore Story Art Value Price Guide

Apr. 20, 2026
William Wetmore STORY (1819–1895) Orpheus Marble 213cm high, 97cm wide, 67cm deep
Est: $200,000 - $260,000
William Wetmore STORY (1819–1895) Orpheus Marble Signed and dated to the right side of the base with incised initials in a cipher and 'Roma 1885' 213cm high, 97cm wide, 67cm deep PROVENANCE: János, Graf Pálffy (1829–1908), Bratislava, acquired directly from the sculptor, probably commissioned by Graf Pálffy Pollak and Winternitz, Property from the Estate of János, Graf Pálffy, Vienna, May 1924 Private collection, acquired from the above Thence by descent Sotheby's, 19th and 20th Century Sculpture, London, 6 June 1997, lot 63 (illustrated) Private collection, Switzerland Sotheby's, 19th and 20th Century Sculpture, London, 11 December 2014, lot 20 (illustrated) John Schaeffer AO (1941–2020), Sydney, acquired from the above Sotheby's Australia, Important Art from the John Schaeffer AO Collection, Sydney, 29 April 2018, lot 50 (illustrated), purchased by the vendor
Leonard Joel
May. 15, 2025
Fuller, Margaret (1810-1850) Autograph Letter Signed.
Est: $3,000 - $5,000
Fuller, Margaret (1810-1850) Autograph Letter Signed. ?New York City, Spring of 1846. Two sheets of lightweight wove writing paper each inscribed on one side with one line and signature on second page, to childhood acquaintance, sculptor & art critic William Wetmore Story (1819-1895) favorably introducing Kentucky sculptor Joel Tanner Hart (1810-1877); 7 1/4 x 5 in. [Together with] three reference books on Hart. Three letters of recommendation for Hart survive, all dating from the winter of 1845/6, including one written by Henry Clay (who sat for the sculptor). Fuller and Tanner attended Anne Lynch's literary salons in New York, likely where they met. In the late 1840s, Fuller, Hart and Story were all living in Italy, and although we know that the Story's were in direct contact with Fuller, a direct connection between Hart and Fuller in Italy has yet to be discerned. "To W.W. Story, I take the liberty by this note to offer to your acquaintance, Mr. Hart the Kentucky Sculptor, whose genius will, I doubt not, inspire you with interest, and to whom your regard might much avail in his short visit to Boston. S.M. Fuller"
Swann Auction Galleries
Jul. 28, 2021
WILLIAM WETMORE STORY (Massachusetts/Italy, 1819-1895), Venus of the Bath., Oil on canvas, 15.75” x 12.5”. Unframed.
Est: $700 - $1,000
WILLIAM WETMORE STORY Massachusetts/Italy, 1819-1895 Venus of the Bath. Signed on upper stretcher. Titled on label verso.
Eldred's
May. 16, 2019
William Wetmore Story, painting
Est: $200 - $300
William Wetmore Story (American, 1819-1895), "Venus of the Bath", oil on canvas, pen initialed on canvas verso, titled on paper tag on back stretcher, 15"h x 12"w (sight), 17"h x 14.5"w (frame)
Millea Bros Ltd
Oct. 31, 2018
WILLIAM WETMORE STORY (AMERICAN, 1819–1895) - Dalilah
Est: $200,000 - $300,000
WILLIAM WETMORE STORY (AMERICAN, 1819–1895) Dalilah marble 76 ½ in. (194.5 cm.) high
Christie's
Apr. 29, 2018
WILLIAM WETMORE STORY 1819-1895 Orpheus with his Lyre 1885 marble 211 cm high
Est: $220,000 - $280,000
WILLIAM WETMORE STORY 1819-1895 Orpheus with his Lyre 1885 marble signed with cypher, dated and inscribed 'WW Story Roma 1885'on base 211 cm high PROVENANCE Graf János Pálffy, Bratislava Pollak and Winternitz, Vienna, 1924 Private Collection, acquired from the above Private Collection, by descent from the above Sotheby's, London, 6 June 1997, lot 63, illustrated Private Collection, Switzerland 19th & 20th Century Sculpture, Sotheby's, London, 11 December 2014, lot 20, illustrated Mr John Schaeffer AO, Sydney, acquired from the above
Smith & Singer
Dec. 14, 2016
WILLIAM WETMORE STORY | Fauness and child
Est: £35,000 - £50,000
marble
Sotheby's
Oct. 05, 2016
William Wetmore Story "Dalilah" white marble,
Est: $80,000 - $120,000
William Wetmore Story "Dalilah" white marble, 1867. Inscribed on reverse of base with artist's monogram, "WWS". 76"H x 25"W x 28"D. PROVENANCE: Edward Matthews, New York, 1872. Collection of Eugene Leone, New York. Spanierman Gallery, New York. Hammer Galleries, New York. From the Collection of Sam Wyly, Dallas, Texas (acquired from the above in 1998). LITERATURE: Samuel Osgood, "American Artists in Italy," Harper's New Monthly Magazine, August, 1870: vol. 41, pp. 420-25. O.W. LwV., "Art Treasures of New York," Fine Arts, July, 1872: vol. 1, no. 5, p. 85. Mary E. Phillips, "Reminiscences of William Wetmore Story," Chicago and New York: Rand McNally & Company, 1897, p. 153. William H. Gerdts, "William Wetmore Story," The American Art Journal, November, 1972: vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 16-33. NOTE: Carved from Carrara marble the artist himself described as, "magnificent, and promises to be among the finest blocks I have ever done." "Dalilah," follows in the tradition of the artist's keen interest in the character of some of history's most formidable women including: Cleopatra, The Libyan Sibyl, Judith, Alcestis, and Medea. In the present example, he has found perhaps one of the more complex biblical or mythological "femme fatales." He has chosen to present her in the moment directly after she has committed her dark act as described in Judges 16:19, "she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him." Her downward gaze and loose grip on both the drape around her waist and money bag as so well described by an unidentified Rome newspaper praised the conflicted mood of the sculpture thusly, "In his happiest mood he [Story] has seized the moment when the Siren is commencing to feel the Nemesis which has her in its grasp forever. Deep gloom is seated upon that brow, the heir of a deed of black treachery committed upon her sleeping husband, and there it will sit for all time. The sun in heaven has no brightness for her, and happiness has sighed farewell." And while there is some note of despondency in her gaze, another nineteenth century critic viewed the piece in this light, "The sculptor has seized the moment when, [Dalilah's] treacherous purpose accomplished, she has arisen from the couch and stands erect in the proud triumph of success. The attitude is grandly majestic: with one hand she is clasping the flowing drapery around her waste [sic], while the other holds the purse with the golden pieces A wide band encircles her head, confining the long tresses of her hair. Just at her feet are the seven locks shaven from Samson's head." We can see that Story has been entirely successful in allowing the viewer to comprehend the complexity of Dalilah's character that made her such an alluring subject matter. The only other version of this work is located in the collection of The Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco. William Wetmore Story (American, 1819-1895). Please note: We will not be accepting bids on this lot via internet bidding. Please contact the gallery to register for bidding.
Dallas Auction Gallery
May. 25, 2016
WILLIAM WETMORE STORY | Self-portrait bust
Est: £30,000 - £50,000
white marble, on a white marble socle
Sotheby's
May. 20, 2015
WILLIAM WETMORE STORY | Medea
Est: £30,000 - £50,000
white marble, on a veined light grey marble base
Sotheby's
Dec. 11, 2014
William Wetmore Story
Est: £120,000 - £180,000
William Wetmore Story
Sotheby's
Jun. 16, 2013
WILLIAM WETMORE STORY, (American, 1819-1895), BEETHOVEN, bronze;, 18 3/4 x 11 x 11 inches
Est: $1,000 - $2,000
WILLIAM WETMORE STORY (American, 1819-1895) BEETHOVEN bronze; inscribed W.w. Story / Fecit Roma 1860, verso; and inscribed C. Papi Fuse in Firenze, for Clemente Papi, foundry; 18 3/4 x 11 x 11 inches
Grogan & Company
Jan. 10, 2012
William Wetmore Story (American 1819-1895) A Carrara marble bust of John Lothrop Motley
Est: £1,000 - £1,500
on a turned socle base, signed W.W.STORY and dated ROMA 1869, 72cm high, 40cm wide, (28" high, 15.5" wide).
Bonhams
Oct. 19, 2011
William Wetmore Story (American 1819-1895) A Carrara marble bust of John Lothrop Motley
Est: £2,000 - £3,000
on a turned socle base, signed W.W.STORY and dated ROMA 1869, 72cm high, 40cm wide, (28" high, 15.5" wide).
Bonhams
Nov. 03, 2010
William Wetmore Story (American 1819-1895):A statuary marble bust of John Lothrop Motley,
Est: £4,000 - £6,000
on a turned socle base, signed W.W.STORY and dated ROMA 1869, 72cm high, 40cm wide, (28" high, 15.5" wide).
Bonhams
Feb. 08, 2009
Circle of William Wetmore Story (American, 1819-1895), pair of carved white marble busts of a gentleman and a lady, third quarter 19th century, the mustachioed gentleman in a greatcoat, vest and cravat, the lady with a braided chignon and a ruffled
Est: $2,000 - $4,000
Circle of William Wetmore Story (American, 1819-1895), pair of carved white marble busts of a gentleman and a lady, third quarter 19th century, the mustachioed gentleman in a greatcoat, vest and cravat, the lady with a braided chignon and a ruffled collar caught with a circular cameo brooch, h. 25", w. 17", d. 11"
New Orleans Auction Galleries
Feb. 07, 2009
Circle of William Wetmore Story (American, 1819-1895), pair of carved white marble busts of a gentleman and a lady, third quarter 19th century, the mustachioed gentleman in a greatcoat, vest and cravat, the lady with a braided chignon and a ruffled
Est: $2,000 - $4,000
Circle of William Wetmore Story (American, 1819-1895), pair of carved white marble busts of a gentleman and a lady, third quarter 19th century, the mustachioed gentleman in a greatcoat, vest and cravat, the lady with a braided chignon and a ruffled collar caught with a circular cameo brooch, h. 25", w. 17", d. 11"
New Orleans Auction Galleries
Nov. 11, 2008
- William Wetmore Story , American 1819-1895 Beethoven bronze, dark brown patina
Est: £6,000 - £8,000
signed and dated: WW.STORY 1854 inscribed: F derie de Eck et durand intitled: BEETHOVEN and inscribed on a sheet of music in the pocket: 5 th Symphonie bronze, dark brown patina
Sotheby's