This list of top 10 most expensive paintings is a short list of the most expensive works of art. These pieces have sold for more than the average British person will earn in a lifetime. The reasons behind these high prices include artistic merit, beauty, historical significance, and simple reasons. These paintings may not be the best examples of neoclassicism, but they are still very collectible and worth millions. In the following article, we will discuss each of these works.
How Much Are Famous Paintings? Let's check out the list of top 10 most expensive paintings.
Mona Lisa
The Mona Lisa is perhaps the most famous painting in the world and continues to attract large crowds to the Louvre in Paris. This work of art is priceless and cannot be translated into monetary value. However, some estimate that it is worth more than $850 million. In 1962, the artist insured it for $100 million, which would be the equivalent of $860 million in 2020. The price of the original work may increase by as much as eighty percent over this amount.
Salvator Mundi by Leonardo
Leonardo da Vinci's Salvator Mundi, a painting from the early fifteenth century, is a masterpiece of humankind. It depicts the risen Christ, a hero of many Christian communities. The painting is an excellent example of Renaissance art.
The Salvator Mundi by Leonardo was almost sold for $450 million at Christie's in New York. Today, the Saudi Arabian culture ministry owns the famous painting. Despite the fact that there is a flurry of speculation about who painted Salvator Mundi, some experts believe that the painting was not Leonardo's. However, other specialists think that his pupils or assistants may have painted it for him. In any case, it would gain more prestige if the painting were exhibited at the Louvre, where it belongs amongst four other works by the artist.
The 1907 portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer by Gustav Klimt
The original version of this work was destroyed and reworked multiple times before being purchased by the Russian billionaire Ronald Lauder in 2006. The paintings sold for a total of $300 million. Some of the world's most famous paintings were sold at auctions to make a profit for collectors. But some of them were so expensive because they are part of a culturally significant country.
Interchange by Willem de Koonng
Interchange by Willem de Koonng is a piece of art by a Dutch-American painter. This painting is an early example of abstract expressionism, one of the first movements of modern art in the United States. This work was also known as “Interchanged” and is considered to be one of the most important works of modern art. The price of Interchange by Willem de Koonining is the highest among his works. According to sources, the price of this one abstract expressionist painting was $300 million USD.
When Will You Marry by Paul Gauguin
When Will You Marry by Paul Gauguin is one of his most popular pieces. It depicts a beautiful wedding in an idyllic paradise. The painting is famous for being one of the most expensive paintings ever sold, and was sold for $300 million at an auction house in 2015. The painting is now being displayed as a traveling exhibition and is expected to sell for more than a billion dollars. It was purchased by the Emirate of Qatar, and it is now on display in museums around the world.
Card Players by Paul Cezanna
““Card Players” by Paul Cezanna is also one of the most expensive paintings, it's part of a series of portraits from the 1890s. In 2011, the Royal Family of Qatar bought this piece for $210 million. This purchase doubled the previous record for an artwork sold at auction. The artist was inspired by the surroundings of his home in NYC, which is why the painting sold for such a staggering amount.
Number 17A by Jackson Pollock
Number 17A by Jackson Pollock is an abstract expressionist painting with vibrant colors. The art work was recently purchased by hedge fund manager Kenneth C. Griffin for $200 million from David Geffen. Since then, it has been loaned to the Art Institute of Chicago and is on permanent loan to the museum. The sale of Number 17,A has caused some controversy and prompted a public debate about Pollock's work.
No 6 – Violet, Green and Red by Mark Rothko
The painting “No. Six – Violet, Green and Red” by Mark Rothko is a fantastic example of an abstract painter's work. It was created in 1951, and is one of his most well-known works. The colors in this work are a mixture of blue, violet, green, and red. The artist used a combination of colors to make this composition, and the result is a piece of abstract art.
In the Bouvier Affair, the painting was named in a legal battle between the Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev and an American art dealer. In 2014, the art dealer Yves Bouvier sold it for a record $186 million, making them among the most expensive works in the world.
Picasso's Les Femmes D'Alger
Les Femmes d'Alger (Version O) is an oil painting on canvas measuring 114 x 146.4 cm. It was first painted by French artist Eugene Delacroix in 1935. The piece is considered to be one of the best-known paintings by Picasso. It was sold for an incredible $179.3 million USD in May 2015 at a Christie’s auction.
The Scream
“The Scream” is among the most expensive paintings in the world and is one of the most famous. But its price is lower than the 1893 oil painting version of the same work, which is in the National Gallery of Oslo. In 2012, the billionaire financier Leon Black bought this masterpiece and became the world's most expensive painting.
If you love above top 10 most expensive paintings and can't afford the original artworks, the best alternative is get a museum quality oil painting reproduction. Below is an example painting reproduction from Outpost Art:
