The most expensive paintings by old masters. The most expensive artists in the world
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The value of the paintings lies in aesthetics and spiritual enlightenment, and it is not always possible to define these categories in monetary terms. But these days, all the irrational is becoming available, and people can easily convert aesthetics into coins. The price of a painting is also influenced by the outstanding ability of the artist and the skills of the seller. Besides, dearest works of art are those paintings that have been sold, are being sold and will be sold. We will not be able to appreciate, for example, "Mona Lisa", as it has never been sold, and therefore is a priceless copy.
So what kind of pictures are being proclaimed?
The most expensive painting in the world - 1st place. Number 5, Jackson Pollock, $ 140 million
"Number 5" - Jackson Pollock $ 140 million
The first famous painting called "Number 5" was created in 1948 by the artist Jackson Pollock. He created his works in the style of abstract expressionism. He became the founder of the so-called "action painting". It consisted of mixing colors on canvas with the help of the artist's spontaneity, resulting in an abstraction. As for "Number 5", it is a classic of the genre that shimmers with brown and yellow flowers... The picture can be interpreted in different ways, it all depends on the imagination of the viewer. This work of art was sold at the Sotheby auction, which was held behind closed doors.
The cost of the painting has been estimated in 140 million... The happy owner of the painting was David Geffen, a man known in the circles of art collectors.
Second place. Woman III, Ville de Cooney, $ 137.5 million
Woman III, Ville de Cooney, $ 137.5 million
The next instance that requires our close attention is an object of art called "Woman III" created in 1953 by the artist "Woman III"... The owner of the picture was also the already known collector David Geffen, who in turn sold this work to Steve Cohen, an American billionaire in 2006 for 137.5 million US dollars. She is considered the best piece artist De Cooney, which is not in museums.
Third place. "Golden Adele", Gustav Klimt, $ 135 million.
Another painting sold for fabulous money is "Portrait of Adele Bloch Bauer I", created back in 1907 by the artist Gustav Klimt... This portrait has another name. "Golden Adele" and is a masterpiece of Art Nouveau. The woman in the portrait was beautiful Jewish origin... She was in charge of the salon, which was often visited by artists and other representatives of bohemia. Moreover, she became the only woman whose portrait the artist painted twice. After Adele died, her husband gave all the portraits to an Austrian gallery, later the Nazis stole this painting from the gallery. Only in 2005 did it change after trial descendants of Adele. And in 2006 this work of art was sold for 135 million... dollars to Ronald Lauder.
Fourth place. "Nude against the background of a bust and green leaves", Pablo Picasso, 107 million.
Next in our ranking under the name "Nude against the background of a bust and green leaves" which was written in 1932 famous artist, the author of many world masterpieces, Pablo picasso... She was sold for 107 million... US dollars relatively recently in 2010. The buyer is still unknown, as he purchased this painting at Christie’s auction anonymously. Marie-Thérèse Walter is depicted in this painting. This lady was the beloved of the artist. The painting contains blue and pink tones, which suggests that she was the crown of the creation of Pablo Picasso. Former owners of the painting, Sidney F. Brody and her husband bought it in 1951 for $ 19,000, but after her husband died, it was decided to resell Nude Against Bust and Green Leaves.
Fifth place. "Boy with a Pipe" Pablo Picasso, $ 104 million
Another picture Pablo Picasso "Boy with a Pipe", written in 1905, was also sold in 2004 for 104 million dollars. The author painted this picture in pink period your creativity. It depicts a young man holding a pipe in his left hand. He has a crown of roses on his head. The preliminary cost of this painting was estimated at $ 70 million, but there were people willing to buy it for a lot of money. John Hay Whitney has long been the owner of this work of art, which he acquired in 1950 for only $ 30,000. The real owner of the painting remains unknown to this day.
Sixth place. "Triptych", Francis Bacon, $ 86 million
The following painting was bought for $ 86 million at Sotheby's in 2008. it "Triptych" written by Francis Bacon in 1976. Roman Abramovich became the proud owner of this work. The painting depicts a plot taken from mythology Ancient Greece showing the pursuit of Orestes by the Furies. It is symbolic and tells about human suffering on Earth.
Seventh place. Portrait of Dr. Gachet, Vincent van Gogh, $ 85-130 million
"Portrait of Dr. Gachet", painted at the end of the 19th century in 1890. The author of this painting is Vincent van Gogh. This portrait ended up in the USA during the Second world war... Then the painting was sold to Siegfried Kramarski in Amsetrdam. And she ended up at Christie’s auction. It is the last creation of Van Gogh, which he wrote a couple of weeks before his death. The main character of the picture is the psychiatrist Paul Gachet, who was Van Gogh's own doctor. The psychiatrist's face expresses sadness and sadness. For 15 years it was considered the most expensive painting in the world, its cost was estimated in the range of 85 - 130 million US dollars. Nevertheless, it is still unknown who and where it is.
Thus, you can see that the most expensive paintings of the world are sold for hundreds of millions of dollars. But until now, the value of many paintings has not been appreciated, since true art is priceless.
20. Pablo Picasso - Woman with crossed arms (1901-1902)
Sold for $ 55 million in 2000.
19. Vincent van Gogh - Wheat Field with Cypress Trees (1916)
Sold for $ 57 million in 1993.
18. Kazimir Malevich - Suprematist composition (1916)
Sold for $ 60 million in 2008.
17. Paul Cezanne - Still Life with a Jug and Drapery (1893-1894)
Sold for $ 60.2 million in 1999.
16. Willem de Kooning - Police newspaper (1955)
Sold for $ 63.5 million in 2006.
15. Vincent van Gogh - Portrait of the Artist without a Beard (1889)
Sold for $ 71.5 million in 1998.
14. Andy Warhol - Green Car Crash (1963)
Sold for $ 71.7 million in 2007
13. Mark Rothko - White Center (1950)
Sold for $ 72.8 million in 2007
12. Peter Paul Rubens - Massacre of the Babies (1609-1611)
Sold for $ 76.8 million in 2002.
11. Pierre Auguste Renoir - Ball at the Moulin de la Galette (1876)
Sold for $ 78.1 million in 1990.
10. Jasper Johns - False Start (1959)
Sold for $ 80 million in 2008.
9. Claude Monet - Pond with Water Lilies (1919)
Sold for $ 80.5 million in 2008
8. Vincent van Gogh - Portrait of Dr. Gachet (1890)
Sold for $ 82.5 million in 1990.
7. Francis Bacon - Triptych (1976)
Sold for $ 86.3 million in 2008
6. Gustav Klimt - Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II (1912)
Sold for $ 87.9 million in 2006.
5. Pablo Picasso - Dora Maar with a cat (1941)
Sold for $ 95.2 million in 2006.
4. Pablo Picasso - Boy with a Pipe (1905)
Sold for $ 104.1 million in 2004.
3. Gustav Klimt - Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I (1907)
Sold for $ 135 million in 2006.
2. Willem de Kooning - Woman III (1953)
Sold for $ 137.5 million in 2006.
1. Jackson Pollock - No. 5 (1948)
Sold for $ 140 million in 2006.
The prices for the most expensive paintings in the world are based on the results of the auction. You can see photos and prices of paintings below. They cannot be found in museums, mostly they are in private collections and cost huge sums of money.
Well, our list begins with the neo-Dadaist Jasper Johnson and his painting "False Start". The painting was painted by the artist in 1959. This masterpiece was auctioned off in 2008 for $ 80 million to collectors Kenneth and Anna Griffin.
In ninth place is Vincent Van Gogh, "Portrait of Dr. Gachet" painted in 1890. The painting sold for $ 82.5 million in 1990. The owner is a Japanese businessman Rioe Saito. After the death of the businessman in 1996, the painting disappeared without a trace.
Eighth place is taken by Francis Bacon and his "Triptych 1976". The piece sold for $ 86.3 million in 2008. Roman Abramovich became the owner of the painting.
In seventh place is Pablo Picasso with the painting "Dora Maar with the Cat". The price of the painting was $ 95, 2 million. The painting was painted by the artist in 1941. It is not so easy to see the cat itself in the picture; the whole point is that there are no clear lines or edges in the picture.
Sixth place is one of the most famous contemporary artists Andy Warhole. His 1963 painting, 8 Elvis, sold for $ 100 million in 2008.
The fifth place is occupied by the painting "The Scream". The author of the painting, Edvard Munch, spent a lot of time writing this masterpiece. The artist painted it from 1893 to 1910 at intervals. The painting was sold at auction for $ 120 million.
In fourth place is the painting "Adele Bloch-Bauer I" by Gustav Klimat, painted in 1907. In 2006, at an auction, they paid $ 135 million for it. Adele Bloch-Bauer was the wife of a wealthy industrialist, who commissioned a series of portraits from the artist. After the death of Adele herself, the portraits ended up in an Austrian gallery, and then were stolen. In 2005, the paintings were returned to the descendants and only after that they were put up for auction.
The Dutch artist Willem de Kooning rightfully takes the third place with the painting "Woman III". The painting was painted in 1953, only strokes and strokes were used in the work. In 2006 it was sold for $ 137.5 million.
In second place in our top is the painting by abstractionist Jackson Pollock "No. 5, 1948". The painting used yellow, brown and gray colors... The painting was painted by splashing and pouring paint. Its amount at the auction in 2006 was $ 140 million.
In the first place is a picture called "The Card Players". The author of the picture is French artist Paul Cezanne. The picture was drawn for exactly one year from 1982 to 1983. In 2013, she was bought by the royal family for $ 250 million.
Reading time: 13 minutes
Painting is the oldest art form. With the help of paint, brush, palette and other tools, a person tries to convey his imagination and vision of the world. The history of painting is long and multifaceted. This kind creativity gave the world such talented painters as: Da Vinci, Titian, Picasso, Van Gogh and many others. These geniuses were able to create real masterpieces that were admired by their contemporaries, admired by descendants, museums vied for the right to exhibit them, and collectors paid millions for the right to own them.
Works by the great masters, periodically appearing at auctions, continue to amaze with record prices and demand for them. Price greatest paintings reaches ever new sky-high heights with each change of ownership.
Willem de Kooning "Woman III"
Year of writing: 1953
Year and place of sale: 2006, private auction
Sale price: $ 137.5 million
Price now: $ 162.4 million
The picture is a shining example expressionist painting, where a woman is depicted in an abstract form on the canvas. This picture belongs to a whole series of works of art by Willem de Kooning, in which the artist tries to reveal the theme female body... On all canvases, the painter depicts women in graffiti style: they have giant eyes, toothy smiles and creepy hands... The technique of applying paint to the canvas: broad strokes and strokes of the brush on the canvas. Some critics explain this style of painting by difficult experiences and conflicting relationships with the female sex, which found a way out on the artist's canvases.
In November 2006, owner David Gaffen sold it to billionaire Stephen Cohen for $ 137.5 million.
Jackson Pollock "Number 5"
Year of writing: 1948
Year and place of sale: 2006, Sotheby's
Sale price: $ 140 million
Price now: $ 165.4 million
Million-dollar deals at auctions are no longer a novelty for Jackson Pollock's paintings. So "Number 5", sold in November 2006 for $ 140 million, became the most expensive artwork art purchased at an auction by an unknown buyer. The uniqueness of the picture lies in the special drip technique, in which the randomness of the patterns is created by spraying paint with spontaneous movements and gestures, layer by layer. Often the entire body of the artist is involved. Such works are called "action painting". Visually, the image is similar to a bird's nest and consists of a close interweaving of yellow, brown and gray splashes different shades... The painting is also an example of Pollock's relationship to fine art: all areas of the canvas are treated the same, the usual points of reference, focus and plans are rejected.
Amedeo Modigliani "Reclining Nude"
Year of writing: 1917-1918
Sale price: $ 170.4 million
Price now: $ 170.4 million
"Lying Nude" is a canvas from a series of naked women, which was painted by Modigliani under the patronage of the Polish dealer Leopold Zborowski in 1917. This painting was a participant in the artist's first and only lifetime art show, held at the Berthe Weil gallery in 1917. The nude model reclining on a crimson sofa with a blue cushion drew public condemnation and the exhibition, which caused a scandalous resonance, was closed by the police. Only decades later in November 2015 at Christie's auction, a series of paintings by Modigliani was declared a renaissance of nudity in modernism. The Guardian art critic Jonathan Jones drew a parallel between Modigliani's models and the traditions of Titian and his Venus Urbino. And he noted that the artist was engaged in praising the sexuality of the body and proclaimed desire as his religion long before Matisse and Picasso. At the same time, "Lying Nude" was sold at auction for 170.4 million dollars.
Pablo Picasso "Algerian women (version O)"
Year of writing: 1955
Year and place of sale: 2015, Christie's
Sale price: $ 179.365 million
Price now: $ 179.365 million
The painting that set a world record at Christie's in 2015, becoming the most expensive lot visual arts... "Algerian Women" was the culmination of a series of works by the artist. Inspired by the creativity of the great Spanish artist XIX century Eugene Delacroix, Picasso created a series of paintings highlighting the situation of Algerian women. Also, the works were conceived by the artist as a tribute and elegy to the friend and rival of the genius, Henri Matisse, who died in 1954. "Algerian Women" is a vivid demonstration of Picasso's tendency to combine vintage style and a unique fresh look at the presentation of the image. This picture merged: kitsch, postmodern and classics. It is this feature that gives the canvas exclusivity and causes an increased demand for the painting.
Rembrandt van Rijn "Portraits of Martin Solmans and Opien Coppit"
Year of writing: 1634
Sale price: $ 180 million
Price now: $ 180 million
The order for the paintings was received by Rembrandt in connection with the wedding of Martin Solmans to Olivia Coppit. Initially, there was one interesting trend in the history of these portraits - painted separately, they were always kept together. While many paired portraits of the 17th century were divided among themselves, these paintings always hung side by side, even moving from collection to collection. They are also distinctive for the work of the master: the size of the canvas, unusual for the artist, and the image of the figure in the portrait in full height... The descendants of the couple depicted in the canvases kept the paintings long years, until it was sold in 1877 to the French banker Gustave Samuel de Rothschild. His descendant, having received a license to sell Rembrandt's masterpieces, sold the paintings to two museums at once. Thus "Portraits of Martin Solmans and Opien Coppit" are jointly owned by the Amsterdam State Museum and the Parisian Louvre for $ 180 million.
Mark Rothko "No. 6 (Violet, green and red)"
Year of writing: 1951
Year and place of sale: 2014, private auction
Sale price: $ 186 million
Price now: $ 186 million
"Violet, Green, Red" - painting American artist with Russian roots - Mark Rothko. Since Rothko is a pioneer of abstract expressionism, his style is characterized by: the absence of certain images, the use of large canvases, horizontal stripes of bright colors. Like most post-war depressed artists, Rothko uses a darker palette for the top of the canvas. In our rating of the most expensive paintings "Violet, Green, Red" was due to the purchase of the painting by Russian businessman Dmitry Rybolovlev in 2014 for a considerable amount of money - $ 186 million. True, a little later, the same Rybolovlev filed a lawsuit against the seller of the painting - the Swiss art dealer Yves Bouvier - accusing him of overstating the cost of the canvas. But until the court makes a decision, "Violet, Green, Red" will remain in the top of the most expensive paintings.
Jackson Pollock "Number 17A"
Year of writing: 1948
Year and place of sale: 2015, private auction
Sale price: $ 200 million
Price now: $ 200 million
Jackson Pollock - bright representative American Abstract Expressionism. For the refusal of the easel and the unique technique, Pollock even received a nickname at one time - Jack the Sprinkler. The artist placed the canvases on the ground and walked around, spraying paint from brushes and syringes, thus creating a new, absolutely unique style in painting - painting of action. Pollock's secret also lies in a paint with a special viscosity that does not smudge when applied. The painting "Number 17A" was bought by American billionaire Kenneth Griffith for $ 200 million in 2015. V this moment the painting can be seen at the Art Institute of the City of Chicago.
Paul Cezanne "The Card Players"
Year of writing: 1895
Year and place of sale: 2011, private auction
Sale price: $ 259 million
Price now: $ 274 million
Until 2015, the painting by Paul Cézanne "The Card Players" was in the lead in the ranking of the most expensive paintings in the world, since in 2011 it was sold by the Greek shipping magnate George Embricos royal family from Qatar for a whopping $ 259 million. This canvas Is a classic look artistic arts, so typical for textbooks, gift photo albums and luxury magazines. "The Card Players" are among the five works of Cézanne related to the impressionist series of the 90s of the XIX century. In the picture we see two men sitting at a wooden table and enthusiastically playing cards. by the way interesting fact is that the player models are the worker and gardener of the Cezanne family estate.
Paul Gauguin "When will you get married?"
Year of writing: 1892
Year and place of sale: 2015, private auction
Sale price: $ 300 million
Price now: $ 300 million
The previous record is shattered by Paul Gauguin's painting "When will you get married?", Sold in 2015 by the private Swiss collector Rudolf Stechelin to the museums of Qatar. Another translation of the title of the painting is "When is the wedding?" The work is a real gem of postmodernism. The painting depicts Tahitian girls in traditional and missionary dresses surrounded by the beautiful landscapes of Tahiti. It was in Tahiti that Gauguin fled at one time, trying to hide from the ordinariness and artificiality of Europe, and it was here that his bright original talent was able to reveal itself in full force. The painting did not bring glory to the artist during his lifetime, and many critics spoke of it completely unflattering. Only many years later, the departed culture captured on the canvas made the picture one of the most famous masterpieces Tahitian period of Gauguin.
Willem de Kooning "Exchange"
Year of writing: 1955
Year and place of sale: 2016, private auction
Sale price: $ 300 million
Price now: $ 300 million
Another picture, which became the most at the end of last year's auction and topped our rating. The Exchange is a great example of New York Abstract Expressionism. In the painting, Willem Kooning tries to convey all the ugliness of the face of the modern world, trying to get back on its feet after the troubles and destruction of World War II. The first time the picture was sold was in 1989. Then it was sold for $ 20.68 million, despite the preliminary estimate of 4-6 million. The record was set in two "categories" at once: the highest amount paid for modern picture and the record selling price of a work of a still living artist. After 28 years, "Deception" fell into the category of the most expensive paintings in the world and took first place there. The well-known Ken Griffin bought the painting, who also bought "Number 17A" by Pollock for 200 million dollars, and paid 300 million dollars for it.
A person gifted by nature with an unsurpassed talent for an artist cannot sit quietly in one place. Many craftsmen try to convey their own inner feelings with the help of the material at hand. As a result of meticulous work, magnificent canvases appear, splashing with a palette of colors, or unique images created with a handful of sand or salt.
Of course, these creative compositions were created by the hands of non-professional artists, and therefore cannot be known to the curious public as the most expensive paintings in the world.
But if we talk about real masterpieces of painting skill, then among them there are ten paintings that are known both in the world, thanks to the skillfully conducted auction.
The most expensive painting in the world. Top 10
- The first place is still occupied by the most expensive painting in the world - "The Card Players" by virtuoso artist Paul Cézanne. This painting cost the new owner $ 250 million at auction.
- A painting by American Expressionist Jackson Pollock entitled "No. 5, 1948", influenced by pictorial style- dripping, went to wealthy financial tycoon David Martinez at Sotheby's for $ 140 million.
- The masterpiece "Woman III" from the artist went from a closed auction for $ 137.5 million. This magnificent painting is part of a series of works by the artist in American museums.
- The painting "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I" by Gustav Klimt sold for $ 135 million. The painting depicts the daughter of the banker Bauer, whose face, shoulders and arms look realistic, and everything else turns into a harmonious abstraction.
- The mysterious painting "The Scream" by the painter Edvard Munch from the series, which includes four paintings of the same name, is the most unusual and colorful. It rightfully occupies a place in the top "the most expensive painting in the world." It was bought by an unknown connoisseur using a phone call and $ 119.9 million. Probably, this person has an indestructible will and does not believe in the power of otherworldly forces, since popular rumor says that everyone who comes into contact with this picture somehow gets into an unpleasant situation that could end in disaster.
- "Boy with a Pipe", created by Pablo Picasso, depicts a touchingly melancholic youth with a wreath of roses on his head. The canvas was sold to a true connoisseur of art for $ 104.1 million.
- The painting "Eight Elvis" extraordinary was bought by an unknown lucky man for $ 100 million.
- Another famous painting by Picasso - the famous "Dora Maar with a Cat" with the appearance of the artist's beloved - sold for indecent large amount 95 million 200 thousand $.