10 Most Expensive Paintings Ever Sold

Everyone knows the art is expensive… but how much? World has seen some great painters their great paintings and great worth of such paintings. The admirers of painting masterpieces are many who can spend hefty sum to acquire them. These are the artworks that have bagged the maximum price in the auctions or the private sales.

Here I have compiled some of the most expensive paintings ever sold in auction. I may have missed out some so please feel free to comment and make list accurate. Thanks

Garcon a la pipe

Painted in 1905 by Pablo Picasso, Garcon a la Pipe (Boy with a Pipe) became the most expensive painting ever sold at auction when it was sold in Sotheby’s in New York in May 2004 for a price of just over $104 million.

Dora Maar au chat

This is another one by Pablo Picasso was bought in a Sotheby’s auction in May 2006 by an anonymous Russian bidder for just over $95 million.

Portrait of Adele Bloch-Baur II

A 1912 painting by Gustav KlimtIt was sold at Christie’s in November 2006 reaching almost $88 million.

Portrait du Dr Gachet

Painted by Vincent van Gogh in 1890, this is one of two versions painted by the Dutch artist. It gained fame in May 1990 when a Japanese businessman paid $82.5 million for the piece at a Christie’s auction, making it the most expensive painting in the world at the time.

Portrait de l’Artiste Sans Barbe

It was painted in 1889. In 1998 at an auction in Christie’s, New York the painting was sold for $71.5 million, making it the third most expensive painting in the world at the time.

Femme aux Bras Croises

The third painting by Pablo Picasso in our list of the most expensive paintings ever sold at auction was painted in 1902 during the artist’s Blue Period. It was sold for over $55 million at a Christie’s auction in 2000.

Bal au Moulin de la Galette, Montmartre

Commonly known as Le Moulin de la Galette, it is an 1876 painting by the French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir. It was bought in auction in May 1990 by Ryoei Saito the same Japanese businessman that bought Portrait du Dr Gachet for over $78 million.

Massacre of the Innocents

Painted in 2 versions in the 17th century by Peter Paul Rubens, Massacre of the Innnocents
depicts the biblical even. In July 2002 it was sold at auction in Sotheby’s, London for almost $76 million to Canadian press baron Kenneth Thomson.

Rideau, Cruchon et Compotier

Considered the most expensive still life ever sold at auction, it was painted towards the end of the 19th century by French artist Paul Cezanne. It was sold at Sotheby’s, New York in May 1999 for over $60 million. It was later sold for a loss.

Irises

Another painting in our list by Vincent Van Gogh, Irises was sold for just under $54 million in 1987 making it the most expensive painting in the world at the time.

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