William Makepeace Thackeray ( 1811 - 1863 ) was a British painter. William Makepeace Thackeray s works have been put up for auction numerous times, with realized prices surpassing estimated prices, varying from 203.48 USD for Humorous Sketches in 2006 to 1000 USD for Vanity Fair. A Novel without a Hero. in 2014 , based on the size and medium of the artwork.