$119.9 million. The Scream by Edvard Munch, 1895
This is a list has some of the greatest paintings known in the world, made by some of the most talented artists in history, reason why they are extremely expensive. These unique pieces of art are wanted by many but not anyone can have them.
Check out these great paintings and see if can afford any of them to take home.
This iconic work was the most expensive painting ever sold at auction until it was surpassed by Bacon’s „Three Studies of Lucian Freud“.
$75.1 million. No 1 (Royal Red and Blue) by Mark Rothko, 2012.
The work is the most colorful of the four versions of Edvard Munch’s masterpiece „The Scream“, and the only one still in private hands.
$80 million. Turquoise Marilyn by Andy Warhol
The majestic canvas was one of eight works hand-selected by Rothko for his landmark solo show of the same year at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Bought by Mr.
$76.7 million. Massacre of the innocents by Peter Paul Ruben, 1610.
Steve Cohen, the price was not confirmed but is generally accepted to be true
Bought by Kenneth Thompson at Sotheby’s London, July 2002.
$82,500,000. Vincent van Gogh – Portrait of Dr. Gachet.
The flamboyant and dramatic work by Rubens – though recently some voices discussing its authenticity have been heard could also fight for the title of „most unexpected success“: Christie’s had estimated its price at a mere £5 million.
Up for auction in 1990 and purchased by Japanese businessman Ryoei Saito, this was – at the time- the most expensive painting in the world. Saito (then 75) caused controversy at the time, stating that when he died, he’d have the painting cremated along with him.
$78,100,000. Pierre-Auguste Renoir – Le Moulin de la Galette.
This was later cleared up as he claimed that he was only using the expression to show his intense affection for it.
At the time of its sale in 1990, it was the second most expensive painting ever sold. This masterpiece even went to the same person that bought number one at the time, Daishowa Paper Manufacturing Co.
$80,000,000. Jasper Johns – False Start.
chairman Ryoei Saito. Again, he wanted this one cremated with him as well, but his companies ran into problems with loans and debt so it had to be sold on as collateral.
Another painting formerly owned by Geffen and allegedly sold to CEO of the Citadel Investment Group, Kenneth C.
$87,900,000. Gustav Klimt – Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II.
Griffin, making it the most expensive painting to be sold by a living artist, the iconic Jasper Johns.
The only model to be painted twice by Klimt and sold a few months after the first version, this portrait of Bloch-Bauer was part of a lot in 2006 of four Klimt paintings that went on to fetch a total of $192 million. Buyer unknown.
$110 million. Flag by Jasper Johns, 1958
Click Here and go compare other paintings by Gustav Klimt.
"Flags“ are Jasper Johns most famous works.
$86,300,000. Francis Bacon – Triptych, 1976.
The artist painted his first American flag in 1954–55, a work now at the MoMA.
$104,200,000. Pablo Picasso – Garçon à la pipe.
Breaking the previous sale record of his work ($52.68 million), Bacon’s 3-piece masterpiece was sold to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, smashing the previous estimate of $70 million.
So far the highest price a painting has ever fetched at auction, and was the first painting to break the $100 million barrier (it was sold in 2004, whilst 1-3 were all in 2006).
$95,200,000. Pablo Picasso – Dora Maar au Chat.
The strange thing is that it was never made public as to who expressed such an interest in Picasso’s portrait of a smoking Parisian.
Another Picasso, the second highest price ever fetched at auction, and another anonymous buyer. Auctioned in 2006, a mysterious Russian bidder took this home (along with a Monet and a Chagall, spending over $100 million) and no one has since found out who he was.
$105.4 million. Silver Car Crash by Andy Warhol, 1932.
The ownership of the painting has still not been made public.
$106.5 million. Nude, Green Leaves and Bust by Pablo Picasso, 1932.
The most expensive work by the most famous legend of Pop Art, Andy Warhol’s monumental „Silver Car Crash“ was the star of the Contemporary Art evening sale at Sotheby’s.
This sensual and colorful masterpiece is the most expensive work by Picasso ever sold at auction. The work, formerly in the collection of Mrs.
$135,000,000. Gustav Klimt – Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I.
Sidney F. Brody, had been never exhibited in public since 1961.
$137,500,000. Willem de Kooning – Woman III.
The painting was bought by Ronald Lauder for his Neue Galerie in New York, to be the centerpiece of a collection of Jewish-owned art rescued from the Nazi looting that took place in the Second World War.
Another painting sold by Geffen in 2006, but this time bought by billionaire Steven A. Cohen.
$140,000,000. Jackson Pollock – No.5, 1948.
It is part of a series of 6 painted by de Kooning in the period of 1951-53, which revolved around the theme of a woman, and is allegedly the only Woman still in private hands.
It is claimed by the New York Times that this painting was sold by David Geffen (of Geffen Records), to David Martinez (managing partner of Fintech Advisory). However, a press release issued on behalf of Martinez states that he didn’t actually purchase the painting.
$142,4 million. Three Studies of Lucian Freud by Francis Bacon, 1969.
So the truth is shrouded in mystery, and it can only be rumored to have sold for a record-breaking $140 million.
Not only the most expensive painting ever auctioned, but also a record for a contemporary work of art.
$155 million. La Rêve (The Dream) by Pablo Picasso, 1932.
Christie’s explained that when this work was painted, „the relationship between Freud and Bacon was at its apex“.
"La Rêve (The Dream)“ is one of Picasso’s most sensual and famous paintings, depicting her lover Marie-Therese Walter sitting on a red armchair with her eyes closed. In 2006, Steve Wynn agreed to sell the painting to Steven Cohen for $139 million, but the sale was cancelled when Mr.
Wynn accidentally damaged the work.