Artwork comes in many forms, from graphic design on an online casino site to commercials on television, and even interior design. Fine art, however, is something very special indeed. The art world has long been home to some of the world’s most expensive and sought-after works. Throughout history, collectors and investors have paid staggering amounts of money for masterpieces, with some paintings selling for hundreds of millions of dollars. Here, we take a look at the top 5 most expensive paintings ever sold.
Salvator Mundi
The most expensive painting ever sold is Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi. This painting was sold at auction in 2017 to an unknown buyer for a staggering $450 million. The painting depicts Jesus Christ dressed in Renaissance-era clothing and is believed to be the last da Vinci painting in private hands. Oddly enough, many art collectors suggest that this may not have been painted by Da Vinci The painting was scooped up by Russian businessman Dmitry Rybolovlev, who paid a relatively measly $127.5 million for the painting in 2013.
Mona Lisa
The second-most expensive painting in history, and the most famous worldwide, is another da Vinci painting, the portrait known as the Mona Lisa. This painting was sold at auction in 1962 to a group of anonymous buyers for $100 million. The painting is one of the most recognizable works of art in the world and is believed to have been painted between 1503 and 1506. Found in the Louvre, Paris, the Mona Lisa is valued at around $860 million.
The Card Players
The third-most expensive painting on this list is Paul Cézanne’s The Card Players. This painting was sold to the Royal Family of Qatar in 2011 for an estimated $250 million. The painting depicts two men playing cards and is believed to have been painted in the 1890s. The painting is considered to be one of the most important works of Post-Impressionism and is currently on display at the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
No. 5
The fourth-most expensive painting in history is Jackson Pollock’s No. 5, 1948. This painting was sold to an anonymous buyer in 2006 for a reported $140 million. The painting is a classic example of Pollock’s abstract expressionist style and is believed to have been painted in 1948.
Woman III
At number 5 on this list is Willem de Kooning’s Woman III. This painting was sold to an anonymous buyer in 2006 for an estimated $137.5 million. The painting is an example of de Kooning’s abstract expressionist style and is believed to have been painted in 1953. This piece is the third in a series of 6 Woman paintings the artist painted.
These five paintings represent some of the most expensive works of art ever sold. As the art world continues to grow, we can expect to see even more staggering prices for masterpieces in the future. Furthermore, those on this list will continue to grow in their value. Whether art dealers will part with such expensive paintings, will depend greatly on their appreciation. Finally, there are still several masterpieces that have been lost through time. As more are found, we may see Salvator Mundi topped as the world’s most expensive painting.
