Ridiculous paintings for a lot of money. The most absurd paintings sold for millions of dollars
Paintings have long been a successful investment of capital and an investment in a bright future. It is difficult to say why this or that painting makes it to the top and collectors are ready to outbid it from a friend, with each transaction only increasing the price of the painting, while other equally worthy works by the same and other talented painters humbly stand in the corner. But the fact that for some creations tens and even hundreds were given million dollars- an indisputable fact.
10. Portrait of Doctor Gachet
Vincent Van Gogh was so filled with gratitude to his doctor that he immortalized him in 1890 in a painting called “Portrait of Doctor Gachet.” Starting in 1990 and for a decade and a half, this canvas took first place in price in all ratings. The last owner was a Japanese industrialist, who ordered that he be cremated and buried along with the portrait, but whether this was done or not is not known for certain, but the painting has not been seen for 21 years.
9. Orange, Red, Yellow ($76 million)
The buyer who bought a Marco Rothko painting for $76 million did not want to make his name public. Russian artist created the work in 1961 and it continued a number of his paintings, known as color segmental abstraction. “Orange, red, yellow” is the case when the name fully reflects the content.
8. Triptych ($86 million)
This is the most expensive post-war picture, was written in 1976. Three panels of equal size are by Francis Bacon. The artist placed ravens, blood, human entrails and distorted organs on them. Today, this composition adorns the collection of the famous oligarch Roman Abramovich. The price paid for the masterpiece is $86 million.
7. Adele Bloch-Bauer ($87 million)
Gustav Klimt laid the foundation of Art Nouveau in Switzerland. Preferred to write women's bodies, which he treated with great sympathy, since his works are permeated with lightness and extraordinary eroticism. The artist treated some models with special affection, for example, Adele Bloch-Bauer, with whom he worked on four paintings. Her 1912 portrait was sold for $87 million to a private collection 11 years ago.
6. Dora Maar with a cat ($95 million)
Dora Maar held the role for over a decade leading woman in the life of the great Picasso. She was not only his mistress, beloved, friend, but also, of course, a model. 1941 Paris is under German occupation, and the relationship between longtime lovers is rapidly deteriorating. At this moment Pablo writes “Dora Maar with a cat.” As the artist himself admitted, for him at that moment the war around and inside him mixed and resulted in this work, the price of which would later be more than 95 million dollars. Today its owner is businessman Boris Ivanishvili.
5. Boy with a Pipe ($104 million)
This concludes Picasso's participation in the top ten most expensive paintings doesn't end. Even at the very beginning creative career 24-year-old Pablo painted a portrait of a boy holding a pipe. The young man's head is decorated with a pink wreath; the name of the sitter is unknown. For $104 million, “Boy with a Pipe” went to the private collection of an Italian connoisseur.
4. Silver Disaster ($105 million)
Andrey Warhola, better known as Andy Warhola, was a creative person. His activities left their mark in literature, painting, and film directing. He was involved in design, publishing, and producing. And at the same time he became a truly iconic character in pop art. His most outstanding creation was created in 1963 and is a composition of two canvases. The left part is made using silk-screen printing technique and contains 15 monochrome photographs from newspapers transferred to canvas. Photos showed the car crashing into a tree trunk.
The right side is empty, but covered with silver paint. The composition called “Silver Disaster” or “Double Disaster” has quite decent dimensions. Its length is almost 2.5 meters, and its height is 4 meters. The work was purchased for $105.4 million at a 2013 auction by a Sotheby's employee for a client who did not want his name made public.
3. Nude, green leaves and bust ($106.5 million)
The top three is opened by Pablo Picasso with his surreal painting 1932 "Nude, green leaves and bust." This painting is an episode of a series in which the loving artist intricately transformed and depicted in his own unique manner the new object of his love, Marie-Therese Walter. A man in love created a whole series works where his desired muse is depicted sleeping and exalted by him to the level of a sexual goddess. True, the wife did not need to know about this, and therefore Pablo created it while Olga Khokhlova (his legal wife) was with her friend in the village of Boisjeloux not far from the heart of France.
In 2010, the painting went under the hammer at the Christie's auction house for $106.5 million. An unknown collector became the third owner of the painting and the owner of the most expensive work of art sold at auction that day.
2. Scream ($119.9 million)
The Norwegian expressionist Edvard Munch could hardly have imagined when he painted “The Scream” that this particular painting would become his business card. Work on the first version began in 1893, but only 17 years later the artist was able to recreate the last one. Edward suffered from mental disorders, was treated in a clinic and, naturally, that feeling of hopelessness, loneliness and horror could not help but be reflected in his works. The gloomy aggression of the surrounding world and the genuine unbridled fear on a person’s face, depicted on canvas, are charged with such powerful energy that is transmitted even through copies and reproductions. Is it any wonder that American financier Leon Black paid $119.9 million in 2012 for the opportunity to own the original painting.
1. The most expensive painting is “Three Sketches for a Portrait of Lucian Freud” ($142.2 million)
First place in the “Most Expensive Painting” category goes to the work of the English expressionist, master of figurative style Francis Bacon, “Three Sketches for a Portrait of Lucian Freud.” This triptych stands out from a number of other works by the author due to its color scheme; it is brighter and more saturated than in other works. The painting depicts the artist's friend sitting on a chair in several different poses and under different angles. It was painted in 1969, and in 2013 it was recognized as the most expensive painting in the world thanks to an unknown buyer who spent $142.2 million on the sketches.
You can share admiration for the most expensive paintings, not understand them or ignore them, but today these paintings are valuable, both from the point of view of art and from the financial side.
When in 2015 Paul Gauguin's painting “When is the wedding?” was sold for record amount- $300 million, the media wrote:
"What if some famous auction house will put up a painting by Leonardo da Vinci for auction? It will most likely sell for a very high price. high price and will top the list of the most expensive paintings in the world. However, this will never happen. At least not in this life. After all, paintings by the great Leonardo are not in private collections, and this is the main condition for works that want to be sold.”
However, just two years later, on November 15, 2017, Salvator Mundi or Salvator Mundi, a 500-year-old work confidently attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, was auctioned at Christie's New York for $450,312,500 ( including the prize) and predictably topped the list of the most expensive paintings.
So here's what it looks like at the moment.
No. 10. $135,000,000. “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I”, Gustav Klimt, sold in 2006
One Austrian artist which is called " Golden Adele" and "Austrian Mona Lisa", was sold in 2006 for a then-record $135 million to American billionaire Ronald Lauder. Maria Altman in judicial procedure sought the right to own the painting, since Adele Bloch-Bauer bequeathed it state gallery Austria, and her husband later canceled the donation amid the events of World War II. By joining legal rights, Maria Altman sold the portrait to Ronald Lauder, who exhibited it in his gallery in New York.
No. 9. $137,500,000. "Woman III", Willem de Koonin, sold in 2006
Film producer and renowned collector David Geffen sold this strange abstraction in 2006 to billionaire Steven A. Cohen. The painting is part of a series of six masterpieces by Kooning, painted between 1951 and 1953.
No. 8. $140,000,000. "No. 5, 1948", Jackson Pollock
According to the New York Times, this painting was also sold by David Geffen, this time to David Martinez, managing partner of FinTech Advisory. The latter did not confirm this information, so the story remains a mystery, shrouded in darkness.
No. 7. $142,400,000. "Three Studies of Lucian Freud", Francis Bacon, sold in 2013
“A triptych of sketches for a portrait of Lucian Freud” by Francis Bacon, painted in 1969, was sold at a public auction at Christie’s in 2013 for $142.4 million. The lot was put up by an unknown collector from Europe, and the auction lasted only six minutes.
No. 6. $155 million “Le Reve” (“The Dream” or “The Dream”), Pablo Picasso, sold in 2013
This is one of the most famous paintings Picasso, in which he depicted his beloved Marie-Thérèse Walter in just one day. In 2006, Steve Wynn agreed to sell the painting to Steven Cohen for $139 million, but the deal fell through because Wynn accidentally damaged the work. On March 26, 2013, according to the New York Post, Steven Cohen bought the painting from Wynne for $155 million
No. 5. 170 million dollars. Amedeo Modigliani"Reclining Nude", sold in 2015
Painting Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani's "Reclining Nude" from the beginning of the 20th century was sold at Christie's for $170 million. The canvas went to a buyer from China, who placed bids by phone, in just 9 minutes. He acquired it for the collection of the private Long Museum, located in Shanghai.
No. 4. $179 million. Pablo Picasso, “Women of Algeria,” sold in 2015
Pablo Picasso's painting "Algerian Women (Version O)", estimated by experts at $140 million, was sold in New York for a then-record $179 million at auction auction house Christie's. Picasso painted this painting in 1955 in memory of Henri Matisse, who died a year earlier. Central figure on it is the artist’s lover and his muse Jacqueline Roque, who became Picasso’s wife in 1961. The painting is part of a series of 15 paintings created by the artist between 1954 and 1955.
No. 3. $250 million. “Card Players”, Paul Cezanne, sold in 2011
"The Card Players" by Paul Cézanne, painted in 1892 - 1893, is the third painting in a series of five works by the French artist, which, as the title suggests, depicts people playing cards. The remaining four works are kept in Paris Orsay, New York Metropolitan, London Cusco and in. The exact cost of the masterpiece is not known, but according to experts it ranged from 259 to 320 million dollars. The buyer of the masterpiece was the Qatar Museums organization.
No. 2. $300 million. Paul Gauguin “When is the wedding?”, sold in 2015
In 2015, Paul Gauguin’s painting “When is the wedding?” was sold for a record amount of $300 million. The painting became another work that went to the Qatari royal family for the same national museum, and it was sold by the famous Swiss collector Rudolf Staehelin.
No. 1. $450 million. “Savior of the World” by Leonardo da Vinci, sold in 2017
Salvator Mundi or Salvator Mundi, a 500-year-old work confidently attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, sold for $450,312,500 (including premium) at Christie's New York.
Nowadays, only less than 20 paintings by the Renaissance genius are known, and “Savior of the World” is the last one remaining in private hands. Others belong to museums and institutes. The work has been called "the greatest artistic discovery"of the last century.
Almost a thousand collectors, antique dealers, advisors, journalists and spectators gathered for the auction in the main auction hall at Rockefeller Center. Several thousand more followed the sale in live. The betting battle started at $100 million and lasted less than 20 minutes. After the price rose from $332 million in one step to $350 million, the battle was fought by only two contenders. The price of 450 million, named by the buyer over the phone, became the final price. On at the moment identity of the new owner historical paintings- including gender and even region of residence - are kept secret.
The image of Jesus Christ, which has already been dubbed the “male Mona Lisa,” became not only a record holder among paintings at public auction, but also the most expensive painting on the planet - and remains so to this day.
1. "No. 5, 1948", Jackson PollockThis painting by American abstract artist Paul Jackson Pollock is the most expensive piece of art ever sold at auction. It was created by the artist in 1948, just at the time when his first exhibition took place, which was a phenomenal success. The painting was made using the “flowing technique” invented by Pollock himself, which is also called dripping or splashing.
The artist spread his canvases on the floor and poured or splashed paint without touching the surface with the brush. Pollock was distinguished by his love of canvases large size, and “No. 5, 1948” is no exception. It is 244 cm high and 122 cm wide.
2. "Woman III", Willem de Kooning, $137.5 million(date of sale - 11.2006)
"Woman III", Willem de Kooning This work is part of a series of paintings made by abstract artist Willem de Kooning in a semi-realistic style and dedicated to women. Created in 1953, the painting is currently the only job from this series, located in private collection. Since the 1970s, the painting has been the property of the Tehran Museum contemporary art, and in 1994 it was sold into private hands and taken out of the country. In 2006, its owner David Geffen sold Woman III to American billionaire Steven Cohen.
3. "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I" Gustav Klimt $135.0 million(date of sale - 06/18/2006)
"Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I" Gustav Klimt This painting, also known as the Golden Adele or the Austrian Mona Lisa, is one of the most famous works the founder of Austrian Art Nouveau, Gustav Klimt. Painted in 1907, it belongs to the “golden period” in the work of Klimt, who at that time combined oil painting with relief techniques and gilding. The portrait depicts Adele Bloch-Bauer, daughter of the general director of the Vienna Banking Union, Moritz Bauer, and the wife of the manufacturer Ferdinand Bloch. In June 2006, “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I” was sold at Sotheby’s for $135 million. The new owner of the painting was Ronald Lauder, co-owner of the famous cosmetics empire Estee Lauder.
4. “Nude, green leaves and bust” by Pablo Picasso $106.5
million(date of sale - 05/05/2010)
"Nude, green leaves and bust" of Pablo Picasso The portrait of the artist's beloved Marie-Thérèse Walter is generally considered one of the most significant works P. Picasso. At the Christie's auction in New York, about a dozen collectors competed for the painting. The buyer who bid over the phone has not been named.
5. "Boy with a Pipe" by Pablo Picasso $104.1 million(sale date - 05/04/2004)
"Boy with a Pipe" by Pablo Picasso The painting belongs to the so-called “pink” period in the artist’s work. The record price for which it was sold at Sotheby's in May 2004 was a real surprise for art fans - after all, the canvas was painted in a manner not similar to the creative handwriting of the pioneer of Cubism.
6. "Dora Maar with a cat" by Pablo Picasso $95.2 million(date of sale - 05/03/2006)
"Dora Maar with a cat" by Pablo Picasso Dora Maar, a talented artist and photographer, was Pablo Picasso's lover for 9 years. Although she never posed for him, many of her portraits and sketches for them have survived. It was Picasso who depicted her as a woman with a lamp in her famous painting"Guernica" (1937), and in the form of " Crying woman"(1937). The artist himself spoke about it this way: “For years I painted her broken face not out of sadism or for pleasure, I saw it that way, and it was stronger than me.” In 2006, “Portrait of Dora Maar with a Cat” was sold at Sotheby’s for $95.216 million. Its starting price was 50 million US dollars.
7. "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II" Gustav Klimt $87.936 million(date of sale - 08.11.2006)
"Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II" Gustav Klimt By decision arbitration court the second portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer, as well as “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I”, was removed in 2005 from the Austrian Belvedere Gallery, where it ended up in 1941 after expropriation by the Nazis, and transferred to the heiress of the Bloch-Bauer family, Maria Altmann. In addition, three more works by Klimt were returned to the Bloch-Bauer heiress: “ Birch Grove", "Apple Tree I" and "Houses in Unterach near Attersee". Maria Altmann offered the Austrian government to buy from her paintings that had been national treasure Austria, for 150 million US dollars, and the country began collecting the required amount. Negotiations were held about a loan from banks, and donations were collected from the population. However, after the price of the paintings rose to $300 million, the government abandoned negotiations. In 2006, “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II” was sold at auction for $87.936 million.
8. "Triptych, 1976" Francis Bacon $86,281 million(date of sale - May, 2008)
"Triptych, 1976" Francis Bacon This work by the notorious British expressionist Francis Bacon, a descendant and full namesake of the great philosopher, became the most expensive painting sold in 2008. By the time this triptych was written, Bacon was already widely known, his paintings were exhibited in largest museums peace. However, he still led a marginal lifestyle and lived in a small two-room apartment in the Chelsea area of London.
“Triptych, 1976” is considered by experts to be the most significant work of F. Bacon in private hands. In May 2008, it was sold at Sotheby's for $86.281 million.
9. "Portrait of Doctor Gachet" by Vincent van Gogh $82.5 million(date of sale - 05/15/1990)
"Portrait of Doctor Gachet" Vincent van Gogh This painting by the Dutch impressionist Vincent Van Gogh suddenly became famous throughout the world after the Japanese businessman Ryoei Saito paid $82.5 million for it at Christie's in New York. The man was so attached to this painting that that after his death he wanted to be cremated along with the canvas. The businessman died in 1996, but the painting remained. The new owner of the painting remains unknown. Perhaps he fears that the same thing will happen to his property as with Klimt’s paintings. “Portrait of Dr. Gachet” may well be the subject of a restitution claim, since in 1937 it was confiscated by the Nazis from the Frankfurt Stadel Art Institute, and then resold to a private collection, from where it came to Saito. Vincent van Gogh painted two versions of the portrait of Dr. Gachet. The second, slightly different in color, is exhibited at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. The painting was completed a few weeks before the artist's suicide in 1890.
10. "Pond with Water Lilies" by Claude Monet $80,451 million(date of sale - June, 2008)
"Pond with Water Lilies" by Claude Monet The painting was painted by the master of impressionism, the French artist Claude Monet, in 1919, shortly before he developed cataracts. However, there is an opinion that the special style of Monet’s works is, in principle, due to the fact that the artist had poor eyesight.
Some experts in the field of painting were surprised that this particular work by Monet was bought for a record price: after all, by the time the “Pond with Water Lilies” was created, the artist’s paintings began to become more and more monotonous, and the fashion for impressionism had long passed, giving way to cubism.
In 2008, this work was sold at Christie's. The buyer who paid 80.5 million US dollars for it remained unknown.
11. "False Start" Jasper Johns $80.0 million(date of sale - 10/12/2006)
"False Start" Jasper Johns This painting was created by American painter and sculptor Jasper Johns, working at the intersection of neo-Dadaism, abstract expressionism and pop art in 1959. It is currently the most expensive work by a living artist. In 2006, renowned art collector Kenneth Griffin paid $80 million for it.
12. "Bal at the Moulin de la Galette" Pierre Auguste Renoir $78.1 million(date of sale - 05/17/1990)
"Bal at the Moulin de la Galette" Pierre Auguste Renoir "Ball at the Cabaret de la Galette" French artist Pierre Auguste Renoir wrote in 1876. In May 1990, the painting was sold for $78 million at Sotheby's in New York to Ryu Saito, who bought this painting along with Van Gogh's Portrait of Doctor Gachet.
13. "Massacre of the Innocents" by Peter Paul Rubens $76.761 million(date of sale - 07/10/2002)
"Massacre of the Innocents" by Peter Paul Rubens Rubens's painting is the only one on this list that was not painted in the 19th century. It was bought at Sotheby's by Baron Kenneth Thomson in 2002.
14. "White Center" Mark Rothko $72.84 million(date of sale – 2007)
"White Center" Mark Rothko The painting was painted by Russian artist Mark Rothko, who designed his own art program and became one of America's most intelligent artists.
15. "Green Car Crash" by Andy Warhol $71.72 million(date of sale – 2007)
"Green Car Crash" by Andy Warhol In 1962, Warhol created a sensational series of canvases depicting, often in garish colors, cans of Coca-Cola and canned food, including - famous images banks tomato soup“Campbell”, which became the calling card of Andy Warhol. Radical art critics immediately drew attention to them, saying that the works young artist skillfully reveal vulgarity, emptiness and facelessness Western culture mass consumption. Subsequently, Warhol began to create more shocking works, such as images of idols made in the “acid” manner modern society: Marilyn Monroe, Mick Jagger, Mao Zedong. There were rumors that as " finishing touch"Warhol asked his lovers to urinate on similar work. Scandalous reputation Warhol contributed to the rise in prices for works from this series.
16. "Portrait of the Artist without a Beard" by Vincent van Gogh $71.5 million(date of sale – 1998)
"Portrait of the Artist without a Beard" by Vincent van Gogh “Portrait of the Artist without a Beard” is one of the many self-portraits of Vincent van Gogh. However, this is the only image of the artist without a beard. The painting, which was sold in 1998 for $71.5 million, was the most expensive at that time.
17. "Police Paper" (1955) Willem de Kooning $63.5 million(date of sale - 10/12/2006)
"Police Paper" (1955) Willem de Kooning 18. "Still life with jug and drapery" Paul Cezanne $60.205 million(date of sale - May 1999)
"Still Life with Jug and Drapery" Paul Cezanne This painting by Paul Cezanne, painted in 1893-1894, was sold in May 1999 at Sotheby's in New York to a representative of the Whitneys - famous philanthropist and producer.
19. "Suprematist composition" Kazimir Malevich $60.0 million(date of sale – 2008)
"Suprematist composition" Kazimir Malevich The painting was painted by the artist in 1916. In 1919-20 she exhibited in Moscow. In 1927, Malevich exhibited the painting at exhibitions in Warsaw, and later in Berlin, where the painting remained after Kazimir left for the USSR in June 1927. Later picture was given to the German architect Hugo Hering, who sold it to the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, where it was kept for about 50 years.
Throughout the 20th century, the painting was repeatedly exhibited at various exhibitions, mainly European. After 17 years of legal disputes, the painting was returned to the artist's heirs.
On November 3, 2008, at Sotheby's auction in New York, the painting was sold to an unknown buyer for 60,002,500, becoming one of the most expensive paintings in history by a Russian artist.
20. "Wheat Field with Cypress Trees" by Vincent van Gogh $57.0 million(date of sale - 1993)
"Wheat field with cypress trees" Vincent van Gogh The painting was painted a year before the artist’s death in May 1899. At this time, Van Gogh was in a shelter for the mentally ill near San Remy, where he was trying to recover from mental illness. Van Gogh himself described the wheat field as “very yellow.” Indeed, Van Gogh tries to paint with thin strokes, using mainly yellow and blue colors. They say that a painting is fascinating, the longer you look at it, the more concentrated your gaze, the more new hidden details you can discover.
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Did you love art or, on the contrary, don’t understand why people spend a lot of money on buying works of painting and graphics? SME has compiled for you a list of the most expensive paintings in the world with prices and photographs so that you can appreciate the quality of execution and the meaning of the masterpieces.
This picture is a rectangle blue, located on top of the red beam. This work was written in the interval between “Black Square” and “White Suprematism”.
No. 25. Kazimir Malevich, "Suprematist composition" (1916)
On November 3, 2008, at Sotheby's auction in New York, the painting was sold to an unknown buyer for $60,002,500, thereby becoming one of the most expensive paintings in history written by a Russian artist.
It is believed that this vividly painted still life is the founder of such a movement as cubism.
No. 24. Paul Cezanne, "Still Life with Jug and Drapery" (1893-1894)
And this painting found its buyer in 1998 and was sold for $60,503,000.
Andy Warhol can easily be called an icon of modern art, because his paintings are sold more expensive than famous classics, for example, Picasso or Van Gogh.
No. 23. Andy Warhol, "The Men in Her Life" (1962)
A black and white collage of photographs with Elizabeth Taylor, her third husband Mike Todd and future husband Eddie Fisher was purchased in 2010 at a Phillips de Pury & Co auction in New York by a buyer who wished to remain anonymous for $63,400,000.
The first artist in the world to be awarded the Imperial Prize for "his achievement, the international influence he has had with his art, and the spiritual enrichment of the entire world community."
No. 22. Willem de Kooning, "Police Paper" (1955)
22nd place of the most expensive paintings in the world is abstract canvas, which flew away from Christie's auction like a hot cake for $63,500,000!
A famous American artist whose works are always painted in such detail that it is almost impossible to distinguish them from photographs.
No. 21. Thomas Eakins, "Gross Clinic" (1875)
The painting depicts Samuel Gross's famed Philadelphia surgeon presiding over an operation to remove part of a bone from a patient's hip in front of a student-filled amphitheater at a medical academy whose realism sparked a scandal and significant PR for the painting. The picture was grabbed by $68,000,000 in 2007!
No. 20. Amedeo Modigliani, "Seated Nude on a Sofa" (1917)
Although Sotheby's did not officially announce the sale of this painting before the start of the auction, as many as 5 buyers fought for it. The new owner got it for only $68,900,000!
Part of a series of 7 paintings on mythological themes commissioned by Philip II of Spain.
No. 19. Titian, "Diana and Actaeon" (1556-1559)
At that time, such paintings were considered depraved and they were specially hung with curtains in the presence of ladies. Erotica from the 16th century was purchased in 2009 for $70,600,000.
No. 18. Vincent van Gogh, "Portrait of the Artist without a Beard" (1889)
We continue the list of the most expensive paintings in the world, where the master of painterly strokes, Van Gogh, took pride of place, for $71,501,000, received in 1998.
The photograph is part of a series depicting tragic car accidents. This particular one is a burning car in Seattle.
No. 17. Andy Warhol, "Green Car Crash" (1963)
Real car accident, immortalized in the photograph, went under the hammer for $71,720,000.
One of the main ideologists in American abstract expressionism, Rothko could not stand it when his works were called abstract.
No. 16. Mark Rothko, "White Center" (1950)
Amazing bright and juicy combination color ranges, ease of exposure and life principles bring to the author $72,800,000 and also included it in the ranking of the most expensive paintings in the world.
As many as 4 buyers competed for one of the most brutal plots of the New Testament.
No. 15. Peter Paul Rubens, "Massacre of the Innocents" (1609-1611)
At Sotheby's auction in London in July 2002, the painting was purchased by Canadian businessman and collector Kenneth Thompson, son of newspaper magnate Lord Thomson. former owner London Times, for $76,700,000.
As the writer Octave Mirbeau said: “This is the only artist who has not painted a single sad picture in his life.”
No. 14. Pierre Auguste Renoir, "Bal at the Moulin de la Galette" (1876)
The honorable 12th place of the most expensive paintings in the world is taken by this one, the owner of the masterpiece was Ryoei Saito, chairman of Daishowa Paper Manufacturing Co. $78,100,000.. He wanted the work to be cremated with him after his death, but due to financial difficulties it had to be used as collateral.
There are five variants of Marilyn in different colors, but for some reason “Turquoise Marilyn” became the most expensive.
No. 13. Andy Warhol, "Turquoise Marilyn" (1964)
Price in $80,000,000 is not accidental, because this particular work is considered to be an icon of pop art, and Andy Warhol is the founder of POPULAR art.
American artist, working in the genres of abstract expressionism and pop art.
No. 12. Jasper Johns, "False Start" (1959)
The painting belonged to David Geffen, who sold it general director Citadel Investment Group, Kenneth S. Griffin, for $80,000,000. It is recognized as the most expensive painting that was sold during the artist’s lifetime.
The painting was painted by the master of impressionism in 1919, shortly before he developed cataracts.
No. 11. Claude Monet, "Pond with Water Lilies" (1919)
One of 60 similar canvases called "Water Lilies" at Sotheby's auction was sold for $80,500,000.
It was this person who monitored the artist’s health just before his death.
No. 10. Vincent van Gogh, "Portrait of Doctor Gachet" (1890)
The same Japanese businessman Ryoei Saito, who wanted to cremate himself with the paintings, bought this work for $82,500,000. When asked why they should burn the masterpieces with him, he explained that this was the only way he could express his selfless affection for the painting.
Francis Bacon is perhaps one of the most dark artists XX century.
No. 8. Pablo Picasso, "Portrait of Dora Maar" (1941)
In 2006, a mysterious Russian anonymous person added to his collection for $96,200,000., at the same time purchasing works by Monet and Chagall worth a total of 100 million dollars.
Request text:"I am interested in creativity) of any kind) even the most expensive, even the most unusual and all the very best)"
Contemporary art for recent years has increased significantly in price: today the most expensive paintings in the world are paintings by classics abstract painting, artists Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko, acquired for $145 million and $140 million, respectively.
No. 5 Jackson Pollock $140.0 million (Sotheby's)
A painting by the famous American abstract artist Jackson Pollock was sold for $140 million - this news was spread by the newspaper The New York Times. The canvas "Number 5" became not only the most expensive painting in the world, but also the first work of post-war art to occupy this place. Jackson Pollock became famous as the inventor of “action painting”, which corresponded to his unchristian-bohemian lifestyle. Several years ago, his biography was filmed in Hollywood, which was not much inferior in drama to the life story of Van Gogh. Jackson Pollock poured and splashed paint onto the canvas, considering it spontaneous creative process more important than the result. "Number 5", a non-objective painting measuring 1.5 x 2.5 m, painted on fiberboard in 1948, is a classic example of this method. The canvas is evenly covered with brown and yellow drops, in which, like blots from a Rorschach test, everyone can see whatever they want.
Woman III Willem de Kooning $137.5 million
This work is part of a series of paintings made by abstract artist Willem de Kooning in a semi-realistic style. Created in 1953, the painting is currently the only work from this series in a private collection. Since the 1970s, the painting was the property of the Tehran Museum of Modern Art, and in 1994 it was sold into private hands and taken out of the country. In 2006, its owner David Geffen sold Woman III to American billionaire Steven Cohen.
Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I Gustav Klimt $135.0
Also known as the "Golden Adele" or the "Austrian Mona Lisa". The painting is considered one of Klimt's most significant paintings. In 1903, during a trip to Italy, the artist was inspired by church mosaics richly decorated with gold in Ravenna and Venice, ancient language which he transferred to modern forms fine arts. He experimented with various techniques painting in order to give the surface of their works a new look. In addition to oil painting he used relief techniques and gilding.
Modern artists are divided into two types, those who draw well and those who draw something incomprehensible. The most interesting thing is that the first category, as a rule, is rarely recognized during life, but the second, on the contrary, is already earning millions from its masterpieces that few people understand. We present to your attention a selection of the most expensive works contemporary art.
“Spatial Concept” Lucio Fontana – $1,500,000
“Untitled”Mark Rothko – $28,000,000
“The Blue Fool” Christopher Wool – $5,000,000
"White Fire I" Barnett Newman - $3,800,000
“Untitled” Cy Twombly – $2,300,000
Canvas “Untitled” or “Stofbuild” Blink Palermo – $1,700,000
