Works of visual art have been valued at all times. Connoisseurs of painting are ready to give a lot of money to get them into their collections. The world’s most renowned masterpieces are usually kept in museums and national galleries. That’s why the expensive paintings are mostly unknown to an average person.
The most expensive paintings: a list
The Massacre of the Innocents, a work of Peter Paul Rubens, was sold for more than 76 million USD at the Sotheby’s auction in 2002. It was created at the beginning of the 17th century.
Another world’s most expensive painting has been painted by Pablo Picasso and called Nude, Green Leaves and Bust. It is believed to be created in 1932. Its price is estimated to be higher than 106 million USD. The portrait depicts a young mistress of the artist. The canvas was found almost 60 years after its creation.
The list includes Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi. The canvas is estimated at 450 million USD. It was considered lost for a long time. However, after the discovery, experts refused to recognize its authenticity. The work was purchased by a sheikh from Saudi Arabia. There are still disputes about its authenticity. Examinations are difficult due to the numerous restorations to which the canvas was subjected.
While listing the world’s most expensive paintings, it is impossible to overlook The Card Players by Paul Cezanne. It was bought for 250 million USD. The master has once created a whole series dedicated to poker players. Four works are kept in private museums, while the last one went to a Greek billionaire. However, in 2011, he has decided to sell it. Its current owner is a representative of the Qatar royal family.
Among the expensive canvases, there are paintings of masters who worked in the 20th century. One of them is Woman III, created by Willem de Kooning in 1953. The cost of the painting is slightly above 135 million USD. Its style is abstract expressionism. This work of the Dutch artist was initially kept in an Iranian museum. Later, in the mid-90s, it was brought to the USA. Its owner is considered to be Steven Cohen, a billionaire and a connoisseur of contemporary art.
Pablo Picasso’s The Dream is considered one of the most valuable works of the artist. It depicts the young mistress of the master, Marie-Thérèse. It is noteworthy that the portrait was created in just one day. Researchers note that he never painted any of his women in the way he portrayed Marie-Thérèse. The canvas was valued at 155 million USD.
Vincent Van Gogh’s Portrait of Dr. Gachet was purchased by a Japanese millionaire for 82.5 million USD in the 1990s. At that time, the painting was considered the most valuable in the world. Ryoei Saito was a big connoisseur of Van Gogh’s heritage. He even gave an order that shocked fans of painting, as he wanted the painting to be cremated together with him.
These are not all works of art estimated at tens of millions of dollars. Many of them were little known during the artists’ lifetime and brought them neither fame nor money. However, after their death, the works have become very popular. They are sold at auctions for millions of dollars, as many collectors dream of getting them. The canvases were created in different epochs and styles. But this does not prevent them from remaining recognized masterpieces of the world’s visual art.
