Do you ever look at a painting online and wonder if it could be sold for millions of dollars? I am here to tell you that some paintings do sell for that price, and it’s way more than you think. Sometimes, the price is equal to the GDP of a small country. With the help of this article today, we will be talking about the top 10 most expensive paintings in the world. The prices will make your jaw drop!
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1. Salvator Mundi by Leonardo Da Vinci (USD 450.3 million):
Salvator Mundi takes the first spot on our list of top 10 most expensive paintings in the world. This was created sometime in the 1500s and its authenticity is often doubted. Art fiends around the world are always in a debate about whether this painting was made by Da Vinci himself or one of his students. In 2017, the painting was bought by Sheikh Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. It was expected to be shown at The Louvre, Abu Dhabi, but this plan did not fall through. According to Wall Street General, the painting will be displayed at the cultural centre of Saudi in the future.
2. Interchange by Willem De Kooning (USD 300 million):
Willem De Kooning was a Dutch American abstract artist. He has made a remarkable contribution to the field of abstract painting for which he is known as the “artist’s artist”. It might be hard for some people to understand what is going on in his paintings. In Interchange, we see pink strokes in the centre, which is symbolic of a lady placed in the middle of a busy landscape. The painting was sold to the CEO of Citadel Kenneth Griffin in 2015 for 300 million US Dollars. As of now, the painting is shown at the Art Institute of Chicago.
3. The Card Players by Paul Cezannd (USD 250-300 million):
The Card Players was painted by Paul Cezannd at a time when he was at the peak of his career. This painting was bought by the royal family of Qatar. A fun fact about this painting is that 4 paintings with this same name were created and are displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Barnes Foundation, the Courtauld and the Musée d’Orsay. What made this painting stand out is that it was the opposite of the way Cezzand created his art before. The Card Players was simple, while his old work was more vibrant and riveting.
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4. Nafea Faa Ipoipo by Paul Gaugain (USD 210 million):
Artist Paul Gauguin made this painting after coming back from Tahiti in 1891. The name of the painting translates to “When Will You Marry” and features two Tahitian women. The decoration of a white flower in the hair of one of the women is symbolic of being ready for marriage. It was believed that the painting was sold to a Qatari buyer for 300 million US dollars but a later lawsuit revealed that the actual sale price was 210 million US dollars.
5. Number 17A by Jackson Pollock (USD 200 million):
This painting is one of the most renowned pieces of abstract expressionism in the world, which is probably why it is in this list of top 10 most expensive paintings in the world. It was bought by Kenneth Griffin (the same person who bought Interchange) as a part of a deal with the David Geffen Foundation. Jackson Pollock’s use of his iconic ‘drip’ technique is the reason for his rise to fame. Unlike the conventional way of painting, Pollock used to place his canvas on the floor and then pour paint over it. His work was guided by his emotions via dynamic movements.
6. The Standard Bearer by Rembrandt (USD 198 million):
This is one of the most well-known and memorable paintings by Rembrandt. It is a self-portrait painted in the year 1636. It was a part of King George IV’s collection but was acquired by the Rothschild family in 1844. In 2022, the Dutch Government bought the painting from the Rothchilds and has been a part of various enchanting museum exhibitions ever since.
7. Shot Sage Blue Marilyn by Andy Warhol (USD 195 million):
This painting is part of a series of 5 paintings making it a significant piece of art in Warhol’s career. It was bought by Larry Gagosian at Christie’s auction in 2022. Warhol made use of his iconic silk-screen technique for the creation of this masterpiece and the inspiration was a publicity picture from ‘Niagara’, a film featuring Marilyn Monroe.
8. No 6 Violet Green and Red by Mark Rothko (USD 186 million):
This painting was completed by Rothko in 1951 and is symbolic of his acclaimed painting style; two big areas of a vibrant colour divided by a strap of calm green colour. As of now, this painting is in the possession of billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev.
9. Portrait of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit by Rembrandt Van Rijn (USD 180 million):
These paintings were completed by Rembrandt in 1634 and have always been together. They were acquired by the Rothschilds in 1878 and were sold to the Louvre and Rijksmuseum via Christie’s. Both museums took turns showcasing the paintings as they wished to preserve the significance of the unity the paintings held.
10. Les Femmes D’alger (Version O) by Pablo Picasso (USD 179.4 million):
This painting is part of a series of 15 paintings and was bought by the royal family of Qatar in 2015. It depicts Algerian concubines with a hookah. This painting is considered a masterpiece and it is said that it created a new style of painting.
I am sure these paintings (and their prices) have blown your mind because mine is blown for sure!