21 Most Expensive Paintings That Shook The Art World
Updated: Feb 17
The elaborative journey of art is a never-ending stream of artistry with distinguishing pigments laid upon any canvas. A day before, as I was learning about one of the finest artists from the Dutch golden age of art, Johannes Vermeer, a minute word came to my notice, Price! As much as it holds true that any figure in the world can't negotiate with the artistry from the past, there are some of the finest artworks with a massive tag, making them the most expensive paintings to exist. Today, as we indulge in seeing through the beauty of these frames, we will also analyze their price metric (according to the last auction) in descending order.
Additionally, I will try to include details such as the artist who made the artwork, their current owner, and where you can view them in person if available.
So, without further ado, let's get started!
21 Most Expensive Paintings Sold At Any Auction.
1. Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci.
Artist of painting | Leonardo da Vinci (1452 - 1519) |
When was it painted | Around 1500 |
Dimensions of painting | 66 cm x 45 cm |
Current owner of painting | Prince Badr bin Abdullah |
Price paid for painting | $450.3 Million |
It is an artwork by Leonardo Da Vinci commissioned around 1500. After being presumed lost for a long time, it was recovered and restored in 2011-12 in the National Art Museum of London. The painting displays the renaissance of Jesus Christ with the cross in his right hand and a crystal ball in his left hand.
In 2017, it was auctioned for $450.3 Million by Christie's to Prince Badr bin Abdullah, making it the most expensive painting in the world, to appear at auction.
2. Interchange by Willem de Kooning.
Artist of painting | Willem de Kooning (1904 - 1997) |
When was it painted | 1955 |
Dimensions of painting | 200.7 cm × 175.3 cm |
Current owner of painting | Kenneth C. Griffin |
Price paid for painting | $300 Million |
An abstract expressionist oil painting, by Dutch painter Willem de Kooning, Interchange was completed in 1955. If you look closely, the subject is basically the transition of the artist from a woman to natural landscape. It features a woman in pink sitting at its centre in a seated position. Originally sold by the artist for $4000 in 1955; it was auctioned to Kenneth C. Griffin in September 2015 for $300 Million, making it one of the most expensive paintings ever sold.
3. The Card Players by Paul Cézanne.
Artist of painting | Paul Cézanne (1839 - 1906) |
When was it painted | 1894 - 1895 |
Dimensions of painting | 47.5 cm × 57 cm |
Current owner of painting | State of Qatar |
Price paid for painting | $250 Million |
The artwork is a series of five oil paintings by the French artist Paul Cézanne. It depicts Provencal peasants who are either way gambling with their eyes down or playing cards. Even though Cézanne painted five paintings of card players, the final three are similar in composition and number of players (two), so they are sometimes grouped together as one. It was auctioned in the year 2011, purchased by the State of Qatar at the price of $250 Million.
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4. Nafea Faa Ipoipo / When will you marry by Paul Gauguin.
Artist of painting | Paul Gauguin (1848 - 1903) |
When was it painted | 1892 |
Dimensions of painting | 101 cm x 77 cm |
Current owner of painting | State of Qatar |
Price paid for painting | $210 Million |
When will you marry is an artwork based on Tahitian culture by famous French artist Paul Gauguin. When he was in search of inspiration, he found Tahitian culture to be the best, but the European outbreak of diseases completely destroyed their culture. He portrayed two ladies here where the red dress girl waits for her marriage and her partner, whereas the high-collared woman's postures direct us some alarm or warning. In 2014, the artwork sold for close to $210 million in a private sale auction to State of Qatar.
5. Number 17A by Jackson Pollock.
Artist of painting | Jackson Pollock (1912 - 1956) |
When was it painted | 1948 |
Dimensions of painting | 112 cm x 86.5 cm |
Current owner of painting | David Geffen |
Price paid for painting | $200 Million |
The abstract painting comes under expressionist artwork by the famous artist Jackson Pollock. It is oil paint on fiberboard created by dipping and splashing the paint on the canvas. The artist introduced the Drip style technique, painted in August 1949. In 2015, David Geffen bought it for $200 Million.
6. The Standard Bearer by Rembrandt.
Artist of painting | Rembrandt (1606 - 1669) |
When was it painted | 1636 |
Dimensions of painting | 118.8 cm × 96.8 cm |
Current owner of painting | Rijksmuseum |
Price paid for painting | $150 Million |
The painting is a portrait by Rembrandt, which was in the formerly collection of Elie de Rothschild (since 1844). When the artist moved to Amsterdam from Leiden, he displayed it in the form of this artwork. The Dutch government purchased it for $150 Million at a private sale from the Rothschild family.
7. Shot Sage Blue Marilyn by Andy Warhol.
Artist of painting | Andy Warhol (1928 - 1987) |
When was it painted | 1964 |
Dimensions of painting | 101.6 x 101.6 cm |
Current owner of painting | Larry Gagosian |
Price paid for painting | $195 Million |
Shot Sage Blue Marilyn is one of the four of Marilyn Monroe's silk-screen depictions by Andy Warhol. Initially sold for $5000 in 1967 to Peter Bryant, the art piece grabbed headlines when Larry Gagosian, an American art dealer, bought it for a whopping $195 Million at a Christie's auction in 2022 making it 7th of the most expensive paintings ever sold.
8. No. 6 (Violent Green and Red) by Mark Rothko.
Artist of painting | Mark Rothko (1903 - 1970) |
When was it painted | 1951 |
Dimensions of painting | 235 cm × 330 cm |
Current owner of painting | Dmitry Rybolovlev |
Price paid for painting | €140 Million |
The shades of uneven colour are characteristic of the abstract expressionist Mark Rothko's 1951 painting. As a result of the rich mixture of red, blue, and black, it resembles eye-catching colours. It became the 8th of the most expensive paintings in 2014 when Dmitry Rybolovlev purchased it for €140 Million.
9. Wasserschlangen II by Gustav Klimt.
Artist of painting | Gustav Klimt (1862 - 1918) |
When was it painted | 1904 - 1907 |
Dimensions of painting | 80 cm × 145 cm |
Current owner of painting | Dmitry Rybolovlev |
Price paid for painting | $170 Million |
The oil painting, also called Water Serpents 2, made by Gustav Klimt, has been the centre of controversy and attraction in 2013 due to its long history of being stolen by Nazis. It portrays the magical colours in lustful bliss. The subject shows nudity with their heads visible and bodies lying on each other. A common artistic tradition for centuries has been depicting mythical figures in noncontroversial ways. Nevertheless, it has also been interpreted as a representation of a lesbian orgy. The following artwork sold for $170 Million to Dmitry Rybolovlev.
10. Pendant portraits of Maerten Soolmans And Oopjen Coppit by Rembrandt.
Artist of painting | Rembrandt (1606 - 1669) |
When was it painted | 1634 |
Dimensions of painting | 210 cm × 134.5 cm |