10 Most Expensive Paintings In The World

"The Card Players",1892/93 by PAUL CÉZANNE

Amount:$250 million

Private sale, 2011.

Seller: George Embiricos

Buyer: Royal Family of Qatar

This is the last version of this famous composition by Paul Cézanne still in private hands. The fabulous psychological intensity in the faces of the players make this painting a masterpiece of post-impressionist art.

 

"Number 5, 1948", by  JACKSON POLLOCK

Amount: $140 million

Private sale, 2006.

Seller: David Geffen.

Buyer: Unknown (rumoured to be Mexican businessman David Martine)

Right now, this stunning "drip" by Jackson Pollock is the most expensive contemporary painting ever sold, though the exact price was never confirmed (but the price displayed here is generally accepted to be true). The exorbitant sum demonstrates not only the strength of the Art market, but also the increasing interest for the contemporary works of Art.

"Woman III", 1952-53 by WILLEM DE KOONING 

Amount: $137.5 million

Private sale, 2006.

Seller: David Geffen

Buyer: Steven Cohe

This painting is the only "Woman" by Willem de Kooning still in private hands. One of this women -described by T. Hess as "black goddesses"- has been chosen by theartwolf.com as one of the 50 masterworks of the history of painting.

"Adele Bloch-bauer I", 1907 by GUSTAV KLIMT

Amount: $135 million
Private sale, 2006

Buyer: Ronald Lauder

The acquisition of this iconic work by cosmetic magnate Ronald Lauder caused a shock in the Art world, not only for the spectacular sum paid for it, but also for the way it was sold, far away from the noisy auction houses. The painting was part of a group of five canvases which had been recently returned to the heirs of Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer. The Nazis confiscated his paintings during the World War II, and after the war, the canvases were placed at the National Gallery of Austria in 1948.

"The Scream", 1895  by EDVARD MUNCH

Amount: $119.9 million
Sotheby's New York , May 2012

Buyer: Anonymous

This iconic work is the most expensive painting ever sold at auction. The work is the most colorful of the four versions of Edvard Munch’s masterpiece 'The Scream', and the only one still in private hands.

"Nude, Green Leaves and Bust", 1932 by PABLO PICASSO

Amount: $106.5 million
Christie's New York , May 2010

Buyer: Anonymous

This sensual and colorful masterpiece the most expensive work by Picasso ever sold at auction. The work, formerly in the collection of Mrs. Sidney F. Brody, had been never exhibited in public since 1961

"Garçon a la pipe", 1904 by PABLO PICASSO

Amount: $104.1 million
Sotheby's New York , May 2004

Buyer: Anonymous

The sale of this young smoker was a milestone in the Art auctions world. It broke the record that Vincent van Gogh held since 1990, and it was the first time that the $100 million barrier was broken. Although the name of the buyer was not revealed, some sources says that he could be Guido Barilla, the Italian pasta magnate.

"Eight Elvises", 1963 by ANDY WARHOL

Amount: $100 million
Private sale, 2008.

Buyer: Anonymous

This unique work by Warhol, measuring over 12 feet long, had been at the collection of Roman collector Annibale Berlingieri for over 40 years. It surpassed the previous world record for a work by Warhol, the $71.7 million paid at Christie's New York in 2007 for "Green Car Crash (Green Burning Car I)"

"Dora Maar au chat", 1941  by PABLO PICASSO

Amount: $95.2 million
Sotheby's New York , May 2006.

Buyer: Anonymous

Dora Maar (1907-1997) met Picasso in 1930, and their relationship lasted until 1946. A native from Paris, raised in Argentina and therefore fluent in Spanish, Maar was one of Picasso's favorite models. This painting, measuring 130- 97 cm, was recently rediscovered and authenticated by Picasso's daughter, Maya Widmaier Picasso.

"Diana and Actaeon", 1556-1559 by TITIAN

Amount: $91 million

Private sale, February 2009.

Buyer: United Kingdom

This work have all the splendour and glory of the best of Titian's 'painted poetries'. It was previously at the Duke of Sutherland collection, who offered it to the U.K. It has a "sister picture", "Diana and Callisto", bought for £45 million ($72 million) in 2012.