10 Most Expensive Paintings

Here is the list of the top 10 Most expensive paintings ever sold in the world. You can find information about the best artworks by great artists.

Many would undoubtedly agree that almost all of the artwork in museums and private collections worldwide is priceless. Many pieces are challenging to value because they are one-of-a-kind; nonetheless, art is sold and bought regularly, often at exorbitant prices that most people will never be able to buy. We look at some of the most expensive works of art, from Old Masters to contemporary works, that no one can deny are among the world’s most valuable.

Salvator Mundi By Leonardo Da Vinci (Us$ 450.3 million)

 

The validity of this piece by Leonardo da Vinci, painted in the 1500s, has been questioned. Art enthusiasts are still divided about whether the picture is indeed da Vinci’s or the work of one of his talented disciples. Regardless, it was auctioned for $450 million in 2017 at Christie’s by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince. The artwork was supposed to be on show at the Louvre Abu Dhabi. However, it was postponed, and now, according to the Wall Street Journal, it was allegedly held up aboard a Saudi prince’s boat and would be displayed at Saudi Arabia’s very own future cultural centre in Al Ula. 

Interchange By Willem De Kooning (Us$300 million) 

‘Interchange,’ one of Willem de Kooning’s first abstract landscape paintings, was painted in the Netherlands. It was sold to Kenneth Griffin, the CEO of hedge fund Citadel, for 300 million, but The Art Institute of Chicago has it on loan at the moment. Griffin, an art enthusiast, has also said to have purchased a Jackson Pollock paintings alongside this one. 

The Card Players by Paul Cezanne (Estimated Between Us$250 And $300 Million)

 The Card Players was painted by Paul Cezanne at a time when he was at the height of his fame. The Royal Family of Qatar purchased the piece in 2011. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Musée d’Orsay, the Courtauld, and the Barnes Foundation all have similar works with the same title. 

Nafea Faa Ipoipo By Paul Gauguin (Almost Us$300 million) 

This intriguing artwork, which translates to ‘when will you marry,’ was produced by Paul Gauguin in post-impressionist 1892. Two women from Tahiti island, where Gaugain spent some time, were pictured, and In 2014, it was purportedly sold to Qatar’s royal family. 

‘Number 17a’ By Jackson Pollock (Us$200 million) 

One of the most well-known abstract expressionist painters of all time is Jackson Pollock. In a deal with the David Geffen Foundation and Kenneth Griffin, who also owned Interchange, his picture ‘Number 17a’ was purchased. He paid a total of $500 million for the agreement. 

‘No 6 – Violet Green and Red’ By Mark Rothko (Us$186 million) 

Mark Rothko, a famous Russian American abstract expressionist, painted it in 1951. It was purchased by a Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev from Yves Bouvier, who was later accused of misrepresenting the works in a series of international cases. This artwork, sold to Rybolev for half the price, was initially purchased for half the price, with Bouvier pocketing the difference. 

‘Wasserschlangen Ii’ By Gustav Klimt (Us$170 million)

 

Wasserschlangen is a German word that means “water serpents.” It was painted by Gustav Klimt, a well-known Austrian painter, and includes gold leaf accents. Yves Bouvier also sold this picture to Dmitry Rybolovlev. Rybolev was also said to own the world’s most expensive painting, the Salvator Mundi. This picture originally belonged to the proprietor of a Viennese silk factory, but it was taken by the Nazis and sold to Gustav’s supposed illegitimate child, Gustav Ucicky.

Pendant Portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit – Rembrandt Van Rijn (Us$180 million) 

Rembrandt painted the couple’s portrait of Soolmans and Coppit during their wedding in 1634. These were his first full-length portrait paintings. The artwork is currently on display at the Rijksmuseum, which shares ownership with the Louvre. The Rothschild family once owned it. Even though they move between the museums often. They are always shown together and have never been separated as a couple.

Les Femmes D’alger (Version O) By Pablo Picasso (Us$179.4 million) 

The Qatari royal family purchased this one-of-a-kind Pablo Picasso painting in 2015. The Ganz family owns a 15-piece collection, including this variation. The image depicts Algerian concubines in their harem with a hookah, which they use to inhale hashish or opium. This specific artwork is regarded as the series’ masterpiece. With its references to Cubism, a response to the artist Delacroix’s work. And an echo of Matisse’s work, Christie deems this painting a sensation. It’s almost as if it’s a new painting style. 

`Nu Couche By Amedeo Modigliani (Us$170 million)

 

This nude painting, sold in 2015, was initially displayed to the public in 1917. After only a few hours of its debut. The French authorities were forced to intervene since many people thought it was indecent. It’s one of a collection of Modigliani’s famous nudist paintings. In 2015, it was sold for $170.4 million to Chinese billionaire Liu Yiqian.