Art has always been an important part of human culture, from kids drawing on walls to masterpieces in royal palaces. Some of these famous artworks have sold for sky-high prices at auctions. In this article, we look at the top 10 most expensive paintings ever sold, sharing details about the artists, the prices, and the stories behind them.
Here are the Top 10 Expensive Paintings
| Rank | Painting Name | Artist | Price (Million) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salvator Mundi | Leonardo da Vinci | $450.3 |
| 2 | Interchange | Willem de Kooning | $300 |
| 3 | The Card Players | Paul Cézanne | $250 |
| 4 | Nafea Faa Ipoipo (When Will You Marry?) | Paul Gauguin | $210 |
| 5 | Number 17A | Jackson Pollock | $200 |
| 6 | The Standard Bearer | Rembrandt | $198 |
| 7 | No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red) | Mark Rothko | $186 |
| 8 | Wasserschlangen II | Gustav Klimt | $183.8 |
| 9 | Pendant Portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit | Rembrandt | $180 |
| 10 | Les Femmes d’Alger (Version O) | Pablo Picasso | $179.4 |
1. Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci - $450.3 Million
Leonardo da Vinci’s “Salvator Mundi,” which translates to “Saviour of the World, holds the record for the most expensive painting to have been sold. In 2017, it fetched US$450.3 million in a Christie’s auction. The painting of Christ as Savior of the World has been at the center of much controversy over its authenticity and restoration.
Year: c. 1499–1510
Type: Oil on walnut panel
Dimensions: 45.7 cm × 65.7 cm (25.8 in × 19.2 in)
Owner: Acquired by Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism for the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Currently owned by Mohammad bin Salman.
2. Interchange by Willem de Kooning - $300 Million
Willem de Kooning’s “Interchange” was sold for $300 million in a private sale back in 2015. This abstract expressionist work is known for its vivid colors and dynamic composition purveyed by de Kooning as an innovative take on the art world at the time.
Year: 1955
Type: Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions: 200.7 cm × 175.3 cm (79.0 in × 69.0 in)
Owner: Private collection of Kenneth C. Griffin
3. The Card Players by Paul Cézanne - $250 Million
The Card Players” is a series of oil paintings by the French Post-Impressionist artist Paul Cézanne, created during his final period in the early 1890s. In 2011, Paul Cézanne’s “The Card Players” was acquired by the Royal Family of Qatar for $250 million. This is one in a series of five such paintings by Cézanne, which are considered precursors to much modern art in their detailed composition and color.
Year: 1894–95
Type: Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions: 200.7 cm × 175.3 cm (79.0 in × 69.0 in)
Owner : the Royal Family of Qatar
4. Nafea Faa Ipoipo (When Will You Marry?) by Paul Gauguin - $210 Million
In 2014, the sale of Paul Gauguin’s “Nafea Faa Ipoipo” reached $210 million. This piece of post-impressionism was among those that expressed the exotic beauty and cultural richness of the island during Gauguin’s first visit to Tahiti.
Year: 1892
Type: Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions: 101 by 77 centimetres (40 in × 30 in)
Owner : It was reportedly purchased in 2015 from the family of Swiss collector Rudolf Staechelin and placed inQatar Museums.
5. Number 17A by Jackson Pollock - $200 Million
Jackson Pollock’s “Number 17A” was sold for $200 million in a private sale in 2016. This painting is a quintessential example of Pollock’s drip technique, which revolutionized abstract expressionism and left a lasting impact on the art world.
Year: 1948 , Type: Oil paint on fiberboard
Dimensions: 112 cm × 86.5 cm (44 in × 34.1 in)
Owner : Private collection of Kenneth C. Griffin
6. The Standard Bearer by Rembrandt - $198 Million
Rembrandt’s “The Standard Bearer” was sold for $198 million in 2022. This painting, depicting a proud and defiant figure, is celebrated for its dramatic use of light and shadow, characteristic of Rembrandt’s baroque style.
Year: 1636
Type: Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions: 118.8 cm × 96.8 cm (46.8 in × 38.1 in)
Owner : It was reportedly purchased The Dutch government.
7. No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red) by Mark Rothko - $186 Million
Mark Rothko’s “No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red)” was sold for $186 million in 2014. Rothko’s work is known for its large fields of color and emotional depth, making it a significant piece in the abstract expressionist movement.
Year: 1951
Type: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: Not mentioned.
Owner : Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev
8. Wasserschlangen II by Gustav Klimt - $183.8 Million
Gustav Klimt’s “Wasserschlangen II” was sold for $183.8 million in 2013. This painting, also known as “Water Serpents II,” is celebrated for its intricate detail and sensual portrayal of mythological themes.
Year: 1904–1907
Type: Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions: 80 cm × 145 cm (31 in × 57 in)
Owner : Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev
9. Pendant Portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit by Rembrandt - $180 Million
The pendant portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit by Rembrandt were sold for $180 million in 2016. These full-length portraits are remarkable for their lifelike representation and the detailed depiction of 17th-century Dutch fashion.
Year: 1634
Type: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 209.5 cm × 135.5 cm (82.5 in × 53.3 in)
Owner : Ownedby the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the Louvre in Paris
10. Les Femmes d’Alger (Version O) by Pablo Picasso - $179.4 Million
Pablo Picasso’s “Les Femmes d’Alger (Version O)” was sold for $179.4 million in 2015. This painting is part of a series inspired by Delacroix’s “Women of Algiers,” showcasing Picasso’s cubist style and his fascination with orientalism.
Year: 1892
Type: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 114 cm × 146.4 cm (45 in × 57.6 in)
Owner : The buyer was reportedly the former Qatari Prime Minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani.
