While there are many paintings considered to be priceless and housed exclusively at museums indefinitely, some have been sold at private auctions to individuals and organizations for astronomical prices. Here you will find the 15 most expensive paintings ever sold at auction, their prices, the artists, and the significance of the work as it relates to its value. Every painting on this list is notable and recognizable due to their significance to art history.
The significance of each of these works is unmistakable. The story of each piece through time is what attracts private collectors to spend a literal fortune on their purchases. If you enjoy reading about the most prized pieces of artwork on the planet and their worth, continue on to this list of the 15 most expensive pieces of art work ever sold from private owners.
The List of the 15 Highest Priced Paintings Ever Auctioned
15. Le Rêve
Sale Price: $155 million
Artist: Pablo Picasso
Year Painted: 1932
Year Sold: 2013
Adjusted Price: $180.3 million
Le Rêve Sale Summary
Le Rêve is the fifteenth most expensive painting ever sold. The painting was created by Pablo Picasso in 1932. It was sold by Steve Wynn to Steven A. Cohen at a private sale. The Picasso painting was sold for $155 million. Today, that selling price would be $180.3 million when adjusted for inflation.
Upon the agreement for the sale of La Rêve, the owner accidentally tore the painting, and tried to recoup the value loss through insurance. Once this matter was settled out of court, the painting was sold by Wynn to Cohen for the record setting amount, making it a part of art history.
Le Rêve Artistic Significance
The painting portrays his much younger mistress Marie-Thérèse Walter who was a significant muse and source of inspiration for the artist during this period. It is said that Le Rêve was painted in one afternoon. The work is an important part of Picasso’s period of distorted depictions, and contrasted colors resembling early cubism.
The eroticism of the painting is symbolized by the phallus on the subjects face. Le Rêve emerged during the height of the Surrealist movement. The work has had a lasting impact on the art world and has become an iconic representation of Picasso’s style
14. Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I
Sale Price: $135 million
Artist: Gustav Klimt
Year Painted: 1907
Year Sold: 2006
Adjusted Price: $181.5 million
Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I Sale Summary
Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I is the fourteenth most expensive painting ever sold. The painting was created by Gustav Klimt in 1907. It was sold by Maria Altmann to Ronald Lauder, Neue Galerie at a private sale via Christie’s. The Klimt painting was sold for $135 million. Today, that selling price would be $181.5 million when adjusted for inflation.
After an investigative journalist established that Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I had been thieved and should be returned to its owners, the Galerie refused. After Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer’s niece hired an attorney, an arbitration committee agreed that the painting be returned. Upon its return, it was sold for a huge sum of money.
Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I Artistic Significance
The portrait was commissioned by Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer using oil and leaf on canvas. The painting was stolen by the Nazis in 1941 and displayed at the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere. The portrait is the final work of Klimt’s golden phase. It was the first of two depictions of Adele Bloch-Bauer
13. Masterpiece
Sale Price: $165.0 million
Artist: Roy Lichtenstein
Year Painted: 1962
Year Sold: 2017
Adjusted Price: $182.4 million
Masterpiece Sale Summary
Masterpiece is the thirteenth most expensive painting ever sold. The painting was created by Roy Lichtenstein in 1962. It was sold by Agnes Gund to Steven A. Cohen at a private sale in January 2017. The Lichtenstein painting was sold for $165 million. Today, that selling price would be $182.4 million when adjusted for inflation.
Masterpiece Artistic Significance
Masterpiece is a pop art painting that uses Ben-Day dots and narrative content. The character Brad is featured in this work as well as Drowning Girl, which were featured works of Lichtenstein’s first exhibition at Ferus Gallery.
Masterpiece has proven a high value piece as is has reflected Lichtenstein’s own career. This work marked a significant moment in his work, foreshadowing his turmoil and commanding a very high price because of it.
12. Woman III
Sale Price: $137.5 million
Artist: Willem de Kooning
Year Painted: 1953
Year Sold: 2006
Adjusted Price: $184.8 million
Woman III Sale Summary
Woman III is the twelfth most expensive painting ever sold. The painting was created by Willem de Kooning in 1953. It was sold by David Geffen to Steven A. Cohen at a private sale via Larry Gagosian on November 18, 2006. The de Kooning painting was sold for $137.5 million. Today, that selling price would be $184.8 million when adjusted for inflation.
Woman III Artistic Significance
This painting was part of Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art collection from late 1970s to 1994, but this painting could not be shown because of strict rules set by the government after the revolution in 1979 about the visual art depictions. It was quietly traded in 1994 and then sold in 2006.
The censorship of Woman III makes it a part of art history. The importance of this work makes it a very high value painting.
11. No. 5, 1948
Sale Price: $140 million
Artist: Jackson Pollock
Year Painted: 1948
Year Sold: 2006
Adjusted Price: $188.2 million
No. 5, 1948 Sale Summary
No. 5, 1948 is the eleventh most expensive painting ever sold. The painting was created by Jackson Pollock in 1948. It was sold by David Geffen to David Martinez at a private sale via Sotheby’s on November 2, 2006. The Pollock painting was sold for $140 million. Today, that selling price would be $188.2 million when adjusted for inflation.
No. 5, 1948 Artistic Significance
No. 5, 1948 is an abstract expressionist painting. The painting was done on composition board using synthetic resin gloss enamel. The painting is described as a dense bird’s nest of grey, yellow, white, and brown.
What makes No. 5, 1948 special is that the painting has been modified from its original creation, as it was damaged and reworked after having been moved for its sale. This rework was a significant moment in art history, adding a lot of value to the work.
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10. Nu couché
Sale Price: $170.4 million
Artist: Amedeo Modigliani
Year Painted: 1917
Year Sold: 2015
Adjusted Price: $194.8 million
Nu couché Sale Summary
Nu couché is the tenth most expensive painting ever sold. The painting was created by Amedeo Modigliani in 1917. It was sold by Laura Mattioli Rossi to Liu Yiqian at Christie’s, New York on November 9, 2015. The Modigliani painting was sold for $170.4 million. Today, that selling price would be $194.8 million when adjusted for inflation.
Nu couché Artistic Significance
Nu couché is one of a famous series of painted nudes. It is believed to have been included in Modigliani’s first and only art show in 1917, at the Galerie Berthe Weill, which was was shut down by the police. This group of nudes served to reaffirm the subject of nudity in modernist art.
Nu couché is one of the most widely exhibited and reproduced paintings of all time, making it a very valuable piece, and one that was sold for a huge price.
9. Les Femmes d’Alger (“Version O”)
Sale Price: $179.4 million
Artist: Pablo Picasso
Year Painted: 1955
Year Sold: 2015
Adjusted Price: $205 million
Les Femmes d’Alger (“Version O”) Sale Summary
Les Femmes d’Alger (“Version O”) is the ninth most expensive painting ever sold. The painting was created by Pablo Picasso in 1955. It was sold by a private collector to the Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani at Christie’s, New York on May 11, 2015. The Picasso painting was sold for $179.4 million. Today, that selling price would be $205 million when adjusted for inflation.
Les Femmes d’Alger (“Version O”) Artistic Significance
Les Femmes d’Alger (“Version O”) are a series of 15 drawings and paintings. The series was painted by Picasso as a tribute to the artist Eugène Delacroix. Version O was auctioned at a record breaking price.
The impact of Picasso’s Femmes d’Alger series were so significant that he purchased a villa situated in the foothills of Cannes in the South of France, La Californie. Picasso would spend his last decades there where he would return to peak form. The importance of this period places a high worth on this series.
8. Pendant Portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit
Sale Price: $180 million
Artist: Rembrandt
Year Painted: 1634
Year Sold: 2016
Adjusted Price: $206 million
Pendant Portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit Sale Summary
Pendant Portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit is the eight most expensive painting ever sold. The painting was created by Rembrandt in 1634. It was sold by Éric de Rothschild to the Rijksmuseum and the Louvre at a private sale on February 1, 2016. The Rembrandt painting was sold for $180 million. Today, that selling price would be $206 million when adjusted for inflation.
Pendant Portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit Artistic Significance
Pendant Portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit are a pair of full length wedding portraits marking the marriage of Maerten and Oopjen. They are dressed as a pair of wealthy newlyweds. These are unusual works for Rembrandt due to their size and the fact that the subjects are full length.
The significance of Pendant Portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit are that they form a part of Rebrandt’s core work and set a standard for similar works to be measured by. The importance of these paintings commanded the record breaking purchase by the two museums.
7. No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red)
Sale Price: $186 million
Artist: Mark Rothko
Year Painted: 1951
Year Sold: 2014
Adjusted Price: $213 million
No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red) Sale Summary
No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red) is the seventh most expensive painting ever sold. The painting was created by Mark Rothko in 1951. It was sold by Cherise Moueix to Dmitry Rybolovlev at a private sale in August 2014. The Rothko painting was sold for $186 million. Today, that selling price would be $213 million when adjusted for inflation.
No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red) Artistic Significance
No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red) consists of large expanses of color delineated by uneven, hazy shades. It uses three main colors with narrow strips of color for separation. Rothko would use huge canvases to immerse the viewer and the focus would be entirely covered by the boundaries of the work.
No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red) is one of the paintings included in the Bouvier Affair, where the seller misrepresented the original cost of art works. This scheme drove the price up considerably and as a result, the price paid was very significant.
6. Wasserschlangen II
Sale Price: $183.8 million
Artist: Gustav Klimt
Year Painted: 1904
Year Sold: 2013
Adjusted Price: $213.8 million
Wasserschlangen II Sale Summary
Wasserschlangen II is the sixth most expensive painting ever sold. The painting was created by Gustav Klimt in 1904. It was sold by Yves Bouvier to Dmitry Rybolovlev at a private sale in 2013. The Klimt painting was sold for $183.8 million. Today, that selling price would be $213.8 million when adjusted for inflation.
Wasserschlangen II Artistic Significance
Wasserschlangen II is a follow up oil painting to Wasserschlangen I. The painting focuses on the sensuality of women and same-sex relationships. The painting features a group of four water nymphs, portrayed in bliss. The work is the last in a series of works all focused on water nymphs.
Wasserschlangen II was stolen by the Nazis during World War II. Because of this, it is a very important work in art history and has an extremely high value.
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5. Number 17A
Sale Price: $200 million
Artist: Jackson Pollock
Year Painted: 1948
Year Sold: 2015
Adjusted Price: $229 million
Number 17A Sale Summary
Number 17A is the fifth most expensive painting ever sold. The painting was created by Jackson Pollock in 1948. It was sold by the David Geffen Foundation to Kenneth C. Griffin at a private sale in September 2015. The Pollock painting was sold for $200 million. Today, that selling price would be $229 million when adjusted for inflation.
Number 17A Artistic Significance
Number 17A is an abstract impressionist drip painting created by Pollock by splashing paint onto a horizontal surface. It was created a year after his drip technique was introduced. The abundance of paint used creates a complex color vortex, making the top and bottom layers indiscernible.
Initially drip paintings created by Pollock were highly criticized and had a low public value. What makes this piece of note and value, is it was featured in a 1949 Life magazine article. The feature story posed the question: “Jackson Pollock: Is he the greatest living painter in the United States?” This helped make Jackson Pollock a household name.
4. Nafea Faa Ipoipo (When Will You Marry?)
Sale Price: $210 million
Artist: Paul Gaugin
Year Painted: 1892
Year Sold: 2014
Adjusted Price: $240 million
Nafea Faa Ipoipo (When Will You Marry?) Sale Summary
Nafea Faa Ipoipo (When Will You Marry?) is the fourth most expensive painting ever sold. The painting was created by Paul Gaugin in 1892. It was sold by Rudolf Staechelin heirs to the State of Qatar at a private sale in September 2014. The Gaugin painting was sold for $210 million. Today, that selling price would be $240 million when adjusted for inflation.
Nafea Faa Ipoipo (When Will You Marry?) Artistic Significance
Nafea Faa Ipoipo (When Will You Marry?) is a post-Impressionist painting created by Gauguin during his final period of the 1890s. A traditionally dressed young woman is settled in the front and middle ground. Behind her a second figure in a Western-style dress. The pink color of the female rear figure’s dress is distinct from the other colors. At the bottom right is the inscription “NAFEA Faa ipoipo”.
All the features of Nafea Faa Ipoipo (When Will You Marry?) demonstrate primitivism. Gaugin created the painting during his first stay in Tahiti where he successfully settled in local life, married, and created some of his best known paintings. This period was very significant in Gaugin’s lifetime, marking the beginning of primitivism, making the value of Nafea Faa Ipoipo (When Will You Marry?) very high.
3. The Card Players
Sale Price: $250+ million
Artist: Paul Cézanne
Year Painted: 1892
Year Sold: 2011
Adjusted Price: $301 million
The Card Players Sale Summary
The Card Players is the third most expensive painting ever sold. The painting was created by Paul Cézanne in 1892. It was sold by George Embiricos to the State of Qatar at a private sale in April 2011. The Cézanne painting was sold for $250 million. Today, that selling price would be $301 million when adjusted for inflation.
The Card Players Artistic Significance
The Card Players is a series of paintings created by Cézanne during his final period of the 1890s. Each painting depicts peasants focused on their pipes and card games. The subjects are all male and intent on the game at hand. There are five paintings in total. One version was sold to the Royal Family of Qatar at record breaking sum.
The Card Players series is considered by critics to be a cornerstone of Cézanne’s art during the early-to-mid 1890s period. It also marks the prelude to his final years, when he painted some of his most acclaimed work. This significance put an extremely high value on the sale price.
2. Interchange
Sale Price: $300 million
Artist: Willem De Kooning
Year Painted: 1955
Year Sold: 2015
Adjusted Price: $343 million
Interchange Sale Summary
Interchange is the second most expensive painting ever sold. The painting was created by Willem De Kooning in 1955. It was sold by David Geffen to Kenneth C. Griffin at a private sale in September 2015. The De Kooning painting was sold for $300 million. Today, that selling price would be $343 million when adjusted for inflation.
Interchange Artistic Significance
Interchange is an abstract expressionist painting. The painting marks the transition of the de Kooning’s paintings from women to abstract urban landscapes. It reflects a transition in de Kooning’s painting technique with quickly made gestural marks, as opposed to violent brush strokes. The painting features a fleshy pink mass at its center, which represents a seated woman.
Interchange is a significant piece of art because it was De Kooning’s first successful expressionist art piece. This shift from his prior, more traditional painting ideas to expressionist art was a big leap for the painter and the reason this painting is highly valued.
1. Salvatore Mundi
Sale Price: $450.3 million
Artist: Leonardo da Vinci
Year Painted: 1500
Year Sold: 2017
Adjusted Price: $497.8 million
Salvatore Mundi Sale Summary
Salvator Mundi is the most expensive painting ever sold. The painting was created by Leonardo da Vinci in 1500. It was sold by Dmitry Rybolovlev to Badr bin Abdullah Al Saud at Christie’s Auction house on November 15th, 2017. The da Vinci painting was sold for $450.3 million. Today, that selling price would be $497.8 million when adjusted for inflation.
Salvatore Mundi Artistic Significance
Salvator Mundi is attributed to the Italian Renaissance. The painting is of Christ doing the sign of the cross, holding a crystal orb, in a blue Renaissance dress. The orb represents the celestial sphere of the heavens.
The Salvator Mundi was the last work by da Vinci held by private hands. This makes it an extremely enticing painting for a collector looking to own a significant piece of art history. While some still debate in the art world as to whether the da Vinci painting is really by the master himself, most scholars agree that it is authentic and its finding is an incredible artistic rediscovery of the 20th century.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the world of art auctions has witnessed staggering prices for some of the most iconic and coveted paintings in history. The list of the 15 highest priced paintings ever auctioned showcases the immense value placed on these artistic masterpieces. These artworks have transcended their canvas to become cultural treasures. The exorbitant prices they command reflect not only their artistic brilliance but also the rarity, historical significance, and the desire of collectors to possess a piece of artistic history. As these exceptional paintings change hands for astronomical sums, they continue to captivate the world, reminding us of the enduring power and value of art in our lives.
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