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Top 10 Most Expensive Paintings Ever

Hundreds of thousands — even millions — of dollars are spent every year by art patrons eager to own the world's most sought-after paintings. Find out a little more about this shortlist of Picasso's, Jackson Pollock 's and more works from famous artists who still command the highest prices, what makes these paintings so special, and why they're worth so very much...

 

1. PAUL CÉZANNE
"The Card Players", 1892/93
$250 million
Private sale, 2011. Seller: George Embiricos. Buyer: Royal Family of Qatar.

This is the last version of this famous composition by Paul Cézanne still in private hands. The fabulous psychological intensity in the faces of the players make this painting a masterpiece of post-impressionist art.

2. JACKSON POLLOCK
"Number 5, 1948", 1948
$140 million
Private sale, 2006. Seller: David Geffen. Buyer: Unknown (rumoured to be Mexican businessman David Martinez)

Right now, this stunning "drip" by Jackson Pollock is the most expensive contemporary painting ever sold, though the exact price was never confirmed (but the price displayed here is generally accepted to be true). The exorbitant sum demonstrates not only the strenght of the Art market, but also the increasing interest for the contemporary works of Art.

3. WILLEM DE KOONING
"Woman III", 1952-53
$137.5 million
Private sale, 2006. Seller: David Geffen. Buyer: Steven Cohen

This painting is the only "Woman" by Willem de Kooning still in private hands. One of this women -described by T. Hess as "black goddesses"- has been chosen as one of the 50 masterworks of the history of painting.

4. GUSTAV KLIMT
"Adele Bloch-bauer I", 1907
$135 million
Private sale, 2006. Buyer: Ronald Lauder.

The acquisition of this iconic work by cosmetic magnate Ronald Lauder caused a shock in the Art world, not only for the spectacular sum paid for it, but also for the way it was sold, far away from the noisy auction houses. The painting was part of a group of five canvases which had been recently returned to the heirs of Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer. The Nazis confiscated his paintings during the World War II, and after the war, the canvases were placed at the National Gallery of Austria in 1948.

5. PABLO PICASSO
"Nude, Green Leaves and Bust", 1932
$106.5 million
Christie's New York , May 2010. Buyer: anonymous

This sensual and colorful masterpiece by Picasso is the most expensive painting ever sold at auction. Created in a single day in March 1932, Picasso's painting set a world record auction price for a work of art at Christie’s in May 2010. The painting, more than 5 feet by 4 feet, shows Picasso’s mistress Marie-Thérèse Walter.The work, formerly in the collection of Mrs. Sidney F. Brody, had been never exhibited in public since 1961

6. PABLO PICASSO
"Garçon a la pipe", 1904
$104.1 million
Sotheby's New York , May 2004. Buyer: anonymous



Garçon à la Pipe was created during the artist's famous Rose Period, during which Picasso painted with a cheerful orange and pink palatte. The oil on canvas painting, measuring 100 × 81.3 cm (slightly over 39 × 32 inches), depicts a Parisian boy holding a pipe in his left hand.

The record price auction at Sotheby's New York on May 4, 2004 was a bit of a surprise to art buyers, since it was painted in the style not usually associated with the pioneering Cubist artist.

Painting broke the record that Vincent van Gogh held since 1990, and it was the first time that the $100 million barrier was broken. Although the name of the buyer was not revealed, some sources says that he could be Guido Barilla, the Italian pasta magnate.

7. ANDY WARHOL
"Eight Elvises", 1963
$100 million
Private sale, 2008. Buyer: anonymous

This unique work by Warhol, measuring over 12 feet long, had been at the collection of Roman collector Annibale Berlingieri for over 40 years. It surpassed the previous world record for a work by Warhol, the $71.7 million paid at Christie's New York in 2007 for "Green Car Crash (Green Burning Car I)"

8.PABLO PICASSO
"Dora Maar au chat", 1941
$95.2 million
Sotheby's New York , May 2006. Buyer: anonymous

Painted in 1941, Picasso's controversial portrait (one of his last) is sometimes described as an unflattering depiction of his mistress, Dora Maar, who was an artist/photographer and mistress of Picasso whose relationship lasted ten years during the 1930s and 40s.

9. TITIAN
"Diana and Actaeon", 1556-1559
$91 million
Private sale, February 2009. Buyer: United Kingdom

This work have all the splendour and glory of the best of Titian's 'painted poetries'. It was previously at the Duke of Sutherland collection, who offered it to the U.K. It has a "sister picture", "Diana and Callisto"

10. GUSTAV KLIMT
"Adele Bloch-bauer II ", 1912
$87.9 million
Christie's New York , November 2006. Buyer: unknown

Sold only a few months later than Klimt's first version of Adele, this extremely appealing canvas was the star lot in a highly succesful auction in which four works by Klimt -including this- totalled a stunning $192 million

 


Date: 2015-12-17; view: 1349


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