The most expensive paintings ever sold at auction

Andy Warhol's 1964 portrait, 'Shot Sage Blue Marilyn,' is the most expensive 20th-century artwork ever sold at auction. On May 9, 2023, Christie's announced that the silkscreened piece was sold for US$195 million, smashing the record for the most expensive US artwork ever sold as well. The 40-inch piece was made two years after Monroe's death and is based on a promotional photograph from the 1953 film 'Niagara.' It's also part of a set of four other portraits of the late actress, which each have a different background color. The portrait had most recently belonged to late art dealer Thomas Ammann, and proceeds from the sale will "generously be donated by the Thomas and Doris Ammann Foundation to benefit charities providing urgent medical and educational services to children," Christie's reports.

Before this, the 2015 purchase of Pablo Picasso's 'Les Femmes d'Alger (Version O)' for US$179.4 million held the record for being the most expensive 20th-century artwork sold at auction, according to CNN.

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Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) -

One of Frida Kahlo's iconic self-portraits, titled 'Diego y yo (Diego and I),' was sold at a Sotheby's auction in New York. In it, the face of her husband, the artist Diego Rivera, is painted on her forehead, and three tears fall from her eyes. It's suggested that she painted this during a time when their marriage was on the rocks after Diego had an affair with an actress, and the piece portrays the mental space he occupied at that time.

During her lifetime, Kahlo was often considered to be the wife of a great artist rather than a great artist herself. Now, one of her paintings has been sold for the highest price ever paid for a work by a Latin American artist. Collector Eduardo F. Costantini bought it for US$34.9 million. The previous record was held by Diego Rivera, whose painting was purchased for the considerably lower sum of US$9.8 million.

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Claude Monet (1840–1926) - Monet's painting 'Meules,' which translates to "haystacks," was sold at auction for an astonishing US$110.7 million, a world auction record for the artist. The previous owners turned quite the profit, as they had bought the painting for US$2.53 million back in 1986.

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Claude Monet (1840–1926) - Claude Monet was a French painter and a leading artist in the Impressionist movement.

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David Hockney (1937-) -

'Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)' (1972) features same-sex themes previously unseen at prices like US$90.3 million. Hockney surpassed the previous auction high for a living artist of US$58.4 million, held by Jeff Koons for one of his 'Balloon Dog' sculptures.

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David Hockney (1937-) -

The English painter, draftsman, set designer, and photographer was integral to the pop art movement of the '60s, and is considered to be one of the most influential British, and openly gay, artists of the 20th century.

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Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) -

'Salvator Mundi' (c. 1500). Sold for US$450.3 million, November 2017. This is currently the most expensive work of art ever sold at auction, as reported by the BBC.

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Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) - Italian painter, sculptor, architect, inventor, military engineer and draftsman. Pictured is a self portrait.

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Edouard Manet (1832–1883) - 'Le Printemps' (1881). Sold for US$65.1 million, November 2014.

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Edouard Manet (1832–1883) - French painter Edouard Manet was one of the first 19th-century artists to paint modern life.

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Amedeo Modigliani (1884–1920) -

The artist's 'Nu Couché' (1917-18). Sold for US$170.4 million, November 2015. Pictured here is 'Jeanne Hebuterne' (1919).

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Amedeo Modigliani (1884–1920) - Italian-Jewish painter, Amedeo Modigliani is known for portraits and nudes in a modern style.

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Roy Lichtenstein (1923–1997) - 'Masterpiece' (1962). Sold for US$165 million, January 2017.

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Roy Lichtenstein (1923–1997) - American pop artist Roy Lichtenstein became a leading figure in the 1960's pop art movement.

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Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) - Seen here on the left, 'Le Rêve' (1932). Sold for US$155 million, March 2013.

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Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) - Spanish artist Pablo Picasso was a hugely influential painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, stage designer, poet, and playwright.

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Gustav Klimt (1862–1918) - 'Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I' (1907). Sold for US$135 million, June 2006.

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Gustav Klimt (1862–1918) - Austrian symbolist painter Gustav Klimt is noted for his paintings, murals, sketches, and other objets d'art.

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Edvard Munch (1863–1944) - 'The Scream' (1895: one of two pastel versions). Sold for US$119.9 million, May 2012.

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Edvard Munch (1863–1944) - Edvard Munch was a Norwegian painter and printmaker whose work reflected intensely evocative psychological themes.

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Jasper Johns (1930–) -

'Flag' (currently the most expensive painting sold privately by a living artist, as confirmed by Guinness World Records) was not sold at auction, but still garnered a remarkable US$110 million, March 2010.

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Jasper Johns (1930–) - Jasper Johns is an American painter, sculptor, and printmaker whose work is associated with abstract expressionism. He is pictured about to receive the Medal of Freedom at the White House.

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Andy Warhol (1928–1987) - 'Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster)' (1963). Sold for US$105.4 million, November 2013.

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Andy Warhol (1928–1987) - Andy Warhol was an American artist, director, and producer who stood at the vanguard of the pop art movement.

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Francis Bacon (1909–1992) - 'Three Studies of Lucian Freud' (1969). Sold for US$142.4 million, November 2013.

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Francis Bacon (1909–1992) - Francis Bacon was an Irish-British figurative painter noted for his bold, sometimes monstrous and emotionally charged, raw imagery.

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Titian (1488–1576) - 'Portrait of Alfonso d'Avalos,
Marquis of Vasto, in Armor with a Page' (1533). Sold for US$70 million, November 2003.

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Titian (1488–1576) - Tiziano Vecelli or Tiziano Vecellio, known in English as Titian, was an Italian painter of the Venetian school.

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Rembrandt (1606–1669) - 'Pendant portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit' (1634). Sold for US$180 million, September 2015.

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Rembrandt (1606–1669) -

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn was an innovative and prolific painter and etcher of the Dutch Golden Age.

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Kazimir Malevich (1879–1935) - 'Suprematist Composition' (1916). Sold for US$85.8 million, May 2018.

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Kazimir Malevich (1879–1935) - Kazimir Malevich was a Russian avant-garde artist and art theorist.

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Hans Holbein the Younger (1497–1543) - 'Darmstadt Madonna' (1526). Sold for US$75 million, July 2011.

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Hans Holbein the Younger (1497–1543) -

A German artist and printmaker, Holbein worked in a Northern Renaissance style.

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Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) - 'Portrait of Dr. Gachet' (1890). Sold for US$82.5 million, May 1990.

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Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) -

Considered the greatest Dutch painter after Rembrandt, the Postimpressionist painter is among the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art.

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Andy Warhol (1928-1987) -

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Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) -

Getty Images

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Claude Monet (1840–1926) - Claude Monet was a French painter and a leading artist in the Impressionist movement.

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David Hockney (1937-) -

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David Hockney (1937-) -

Shutterstock

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Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) -

'Salvator Mundi' (c. 1500). Sold for US$450.3 million, November 2017. This is currently the most expensive work of art ever sold at auction, as reported by the BBC.

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Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) - Italian painter, sculptor, architect, inventor, military engineer and draftsman. Pictured is a self portrait.

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Edouard Manet (1832–1883) - 'Le Printemps' (1881). Sold for US$65.1 million, November 2014.

9 / 37 Fotos

Edouard Manet (1832–1883) - French painter Edouard Manet was one of the first 19th-century artists to paint modern life.

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Amedeo Modigliani (1884–1920) -

The artist's 'Nu Couché' (1917-18). Sold for US$170.4 million, November 2015. Pictured here is 'Jeanne Hebuterne' (1919).

Shutterstock

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Amedeo Modigliani (1884–1920) - Italian-Jewish painter, Amedeo Modigliani is known for portraits and nudes in a modern style.

12 / 37 Fotos

Roy Lichtenstein (1923–1997) - 'Masterpiece' (1962). Sold for US$165 million, January 2017.

13 / 37 Fotos

Roy Lichtenstein (1923–1997) - American pop artist Roy Lichtenstein became a leading figure in the 1960's pop art movement.

14 / 37 Fotos

Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) - Seen here on the left, 'Le Rêve' (1932). Sold for US$155 million, March 2013.

15 / 37 Fotos

Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) - Spanish artist Pablo Picasso was a hugely influential painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, stage designer, poet, and playwright.

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Gustav Klimt (1862–1918) - 'Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I' (1907). Sold for US$135 million, June 2006.

17 / 37 Fotos

Gustav Klimt (1862–1918) - Austrian symbolist painter Gustav Klimt is noted for his paintings, murals, sketches, and other objets d'art.

18 / 37 Fotos

Edvard Munch (1863–1944) - 'The Scream' (1895: one of two pastel versions). Sold for US$119.9 million, May 2012.

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Edvard Munch (1863–1944) - Edvard Munch was a Norwegian painter and printmaker whose work reflected intensely evocative psychological themes.

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Jasper Johns (1930–) -

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Andy Warhol (1928–1987) - 'Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster)' (1963). Sold for US$105.4 million, November 2013.

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Andy Warhol (1928–1987) - Andy Warhol was an American artist, director, and producer who stood at the vanguard of the pop art movement.

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Francis Bacon (1909–1992) - 'Three Studies of Lucian Freud' (1969). Sold for US$142.4 million, November 2013.

25 / 37 Fotos

Francis Bacon (1909–1992) - Francis Bacon was an Irish-British figurative painter noted for his bold, sometimes monstrous and emotionally charged, raw imagery.

26 / 37 Fotos

Titian (1488–1576) - 'Portrait of Alfonso d'Avalos,
Marquis of Vasto, in Armor with a Page' (1533). Sold for US$70 million, November 2003.

27 / 37 Fotos

Titian (1488–1576) - Tiziano Vecelli or Tiziano Vecellio, known in English as Titian, was an Italian painter of the Venetian school.

28 / 37 Fotos

Rembrandt (1606–1669) - 'Pendant portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit' (1634). Sold for US$180 million, September 2015.

29 / 37 Fotos

Rembrandt (1606–1669) -

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn was an innovative and prolific painter and etcher of the Dutch Golden Age.

Shutterstock

30 / 37 Fotos

Kazimir Malevich (1879–1935) - 'Suprematist Composition' (1916). Sold for US$85.8 million, May 2018.

31 / 37 Fotos

Kazimir Malevich (1879–1935) - Kazimir Malevich was a Russian avant-garde artist and art theorist.

32 / 37 Fotos

Hans Holbein the Younger (1497–1543) - 'Darmstadt Madonna' (1526). Sold for US$75 million, July 2011.

33 / 37 Fotos

Hans Holbein the Younger (1497–1543) -

A German artist and printmaker, Holbein worked in a Northern Renaissance style.

34 / 37 Fotos

Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) - 'Portrait of Dr. Gachet' (1890). Sold for US$82.5 million, May 1990.

35 / 37 Fotos

Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) -

Considered the greatest Dutch painter after Rembrandt, the Postimpressionist painter is among the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art.

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The most expensive paintings ever sold at auction

A Gustav Klimt portrait portrait broke the European record for the most expensive artwork sold at auction

19/11/24 | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Art

While many of the most valuable paintings in the world are hanging on the walls of famous museums, there are still some masterpieces on the market that are priceless. Almost.

On June 27, 2023, Gustav Klimt's 'Dame mit Fächer' (Lady with Fan) was auctioned at Sotheby’s in London. After a 10-minute bidding war, it was sold for £85.3 million (US$108.4 million), making it the most expensive piece of art sold at auction in European history. The final price far exceeded the estimated value of £65 million, or US$80 million. The painting shows an unidentified woman with a fan posing against a highly decorative background. It was completed just before the Austrian artist's death in 1918, and was found still on the easel in his studio after he passed away. The painting was last sold in 1994 for a fraction of its current value, at US$11.6 million.

If you're still taken aback by those staggering numbers, you're not alone. Check out this gallery to see the most expensive paintings ever sold at auction.