Top 5 most expensive paintings ever sold at auction.
In the rarefied world of high -end art auctions, prices can skyrocket in the hundreds of millions. Masterpieces long lost in the icons of pop culture, these works not only represent artistic genius but also financial power and world prestige.
However, as The New York Times Recently reported, even billionaire collectors can sometimes delay or challenge payments for shopping of several million dollars, such as the $ 14.5 million Jackson Pollock Painting purchased by David MimranSon of a billionaire sugar magnate Jean-Claude MimranDuring the sale of modern and contemporary evening of Phillips Auction House. This legal dispute highlights the complex environment and with high stakes behind the scenes of the art market today. Below, we reveal the 5 best most expensive paintings ever sold at public auctions, based on the recorded recordings.
1. Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi – $ 450.3 million
Christie’s, New York – November 2017
Salvator Mundi of Leonardo da Vinci – sold for $ 450.3 million at Christie’s in 2017, this masterpiece holds the most expensive table record ever auction.
No paint has drawn more attention – or a higher price – than Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi. Sold at auction at Christie’s in 2017, this representation of Christ holding a crystal orb recovered an amazing $ 450.3 millionThis makes it the most expensive table ever sold at public auctions. The buyer, who would have been linked to Saudi royalty, intended for display work at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, although his place remains mysterious.
Buyer: Would have bought by Badr bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan al-Saud, a Saudi prince, probably on behalf of the Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. The purchase is wrapped in mystery.
2. Andy Warhol’s Shot Sage Blue Marilyn – $ 195 million
Christie’s, New York – May 2022
Andy Warhol’s Shot Sage Blue Marilyn – Sold for $ 195 million at Christie’s in 2022, the highest auction price for a 20th century work of art.
In 2022, the emblematic of Andy Warhol Portrait of Marilyn Monroe Broken records, selling for $ 195 million At Christie’s, New York. The daring image with self -silk has become the most expensive work of art of the 20th century never sold at auction, proving that the heritage of Warhol pop art has as much weight as the ancient masters.
Buyer: Anonymous.
3. Pablo Picasso The women of Algiers (version O) – $ 179.4 million
Christie’s, New York – May 2015
The women of Algiers de Pablo Picasso – sold for $ 179.4 million at Christie’s in 2015, the most expensive work in auction.
Picasso The women of Algiers (version O)a dynamic cubist representation of women inspired by Delacroix, reached $ 179.4 million At Christie’s in 2015. At the time, he set a world auction record for any work, solidifying the influence and the lasting value of Picasso on the modern art market.
Buyer: Hamad bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani, former Prime Minister of Qatar.
4. Amedeo Modigliani’s Nourqueur – $ 170.4 million
Christie’s, New York – November 2015
Reclin nude by Amedeo Modigliani – This painting of 1917 presents the distinctive elongated forms of Modigliani and the sensual representation of the female figure, reflecting its unique contribution to modern modern art of the beginning of the 20th century.
Nu lying of Amedeo Modigliani – sold for $ 170.4 million at Christie’s in 2015, Modigliani’s most expensive painting ever sold at auction.
Modigliani’s sensual masterpiece Nourqueur Make the headlines when it sold $ 170.4 million. The tilting nude has become a symbol of modernism from the beginning of the 20th century and remains the most precious work of the artist ever sold at auction.
Buyer: Chinese businessman Liu Yiqian.
5. Francis Bacon Three studies on Lucian Freud – 142.4 million dollars
Christie’s, New York – November 2013
Three studies for a portrait of Henrietta Moraes by Francis Bacon – This triptych of 1963 captures the intense exploration of the human form and the psychological depth by the distorted figures and the marked compositions, reflecting its deep impact on the figurative art of the 20th century.
The three studies by Francis Bacon on Lucian Freud – sold for $ 142.4 million at Christie’s in 2013, the most expensive work in Bacon and the fifth most expensive painting ever sold at auction.
The powerful triptych portrait of Bacon of his colleague Lucian Freud reported $ 142.4 million in 2013. His emotionally loaded images and his historic artist captured the imaginations of bidders, securing his place among the most precious paintings ever sold at auction.
Buyer: David Martinez (estimated, private sale), the exact details are not officially confirmed.
Honorable mentions
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Exchange By Willem de Kooning (private sale, ~ $ 300 million)
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Shot Sage Blue Marilyn by Andy Warhol (Christie’s, 2022, $ 195 million)
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The dream by Picasso (private sale, ~ $ 155 million)
Why do these paintings sell for so high prices?
Several factors stimulate these astronomical prices:
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The heritage of the artist: The works of Da Vinci, Picasso or Warhol intrinsically carry a historic weight.
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Rarity: Many of these masterpieces are the only versions available in private hands.
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Provenance: Celebrity or prestigious property improves value.
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Emotional and cultural meaning: Emblematic images like The cry Resonate worldwide.
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Investment potential: Art is increasingly considered as a long -term asset class.
FAQ: people also ask
Q: What is the most expensive paint ever sold?
A: Salvator Mundi By Leonardo da Vinci, sold $ 450.3 million at Christie’s in 2017.
Q: Who bought the most expensive table?
A: Salvator Mundi would have been bought by a Saudi prince on behalf of the Museum of Abu Dhabi.
Q: Are private art sales more expensive than auction?
A: Sometimes. Private sales like Willem from Kooning Exchange (approximately $ 300 million) can exceed auction prices but are not publicly confirmed.
Q: What artist dominates the auction records?
A: Pablo Picasso frequently ranks among the best -selling artists because of its prolific production and its global recognition.