When it comes to paintings, there is no shortage of expensive works of art, from the iconic works of the Old Masters to the modern works of contemporary artists. In this article, we’ll take a look at seven of the most expensive paintings in the world and the stories behind them.
The most expensive painting in the world is Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi, which sold for $450.3 million in 2017. The painting is believed to be a portrait of Jesus and is one of fewer than 20 surviving paintings by the Renaissance master. It was purchased by an anonymous buyer at a Christie’s auction in New York, shattering the previous record for the most expensive painting ever sold.
The second most expensive painting is Interchange by Willem de Kooning, which sold for $300 million in 2015. The painting is a large abstract piece that was painted in 1955 and is considered to be one of the most important works of Abstract Expressionism. It was bought by Kenneth C. Griffin, a billionaire hedge fund manager, and is currently on display at the Art Institute of Chicago.
The third most expensive painting is The Card Players by Paul Cézanne, which sold for $250 million in 2011. The painting is a series of five oil paintings that depict a group of men playing cards. It was purchased by the Qatar Museums Authority and is currently on display at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.
The fourth most expensive painting is No. 5, 1948 by Jackson Pollock, which sold for $140 million in 2006. The painting is an abstract expressionist piece and is considered to be one of the artist’s most important works. It was purchased by David Geffen, a billionaire media mogul, and is currently housed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
The fifth most expensive painting is Woman III by Willem de Kooning, which sold for $137.5 million in 2006. The painting is a large abstract piece that was painted in 1953 and is considered to be one of de Kooning’s most important works. It was bought by Steven A. Cohen, a billionaire hedge fund manager, and is currently on display at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art.
The sixth most expensive painting is Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I by Gustav Klimt, which sold for $135 million in 2006. The painting is a portrait of a Jewish socialite and is considered to be one of the most important works of the Vienna Secession period. It was purchased by Ronald S. Lauder, a billionaire businessman and philanthropist, and is currently housed at the Neue Galerie in New York City.
The seventh most expensive painting is Nafea Faa Ipoipo (When Will You Marry?) by Paul Gauguin, which sold for $210 million in 2015. The painting is an oil on canvas depicting two Tahitian women and is considered to be one of the artist’s most important works. It was purchased by the Qatar Museums Authority and is currently housed at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar.
These seven paintings represent some of the most expensive works of art in the world, but there are many others that are worth millions. Some of these works include Andy Warhol’s Eight Elvises, which sold for $100 million in 2008, and Pablo Picasso’s Les Femmes d’Alger (Version O), which sold for $179.4 million in 2015. No matter the price tag, these works of art are sure to be treasured for generations to come.
