Most Expensive Paintings – Discover the Most Valuable Paintings

The most expensive paintings ever sold are usually paintings done before 1803, also known as old masterworks, and are usually owned and showcased at museums for viewers to enjoy their beauty. These works are considered priceless as the museums usually do not sell them. However, numerous other artworks are being sold and bought daily for increasingly hefty prices. The prices of these paintings do frequently change due to inflation over the years.

A List of the World’s Most Expensive Paintings

In this article, we will be going into detail about 30 of the most expensive paintings ever sold also known as the most expensive art. Many would think that the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci would be the most expensive painting, however, due to its value, it is considered priceless and the most valuable painting. It is kept safe for limited viewing in the Louvre Museum in Paris. So, how much is the Mona Lisa worth? It is said to be worth around $860 million.

We will start our list of the most expensive paintings ever sold with Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci.

Salvator Mundi (1490 – 1500) by Leonardo da Vinci: $450.3 Million

Salvator Mundi, meaning “Savior of the World”, is regarded as the world’s most expensive painting ever sold. It was created by the Italian High Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci. The painting is dated between 1490 and 1500 and was famous since it was thought to be a copy of the original artwork. There are many factors attributing to this.

The painting depicts Christ in a blue dress of the Renaissance era, with his right hand holding up the sign of the cross.

Salvator Mundi (1490 – 1500) by Leonardo da Vinci, located in the Louvre Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Leonardo da Vinci, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

He is holding a transparent orb in his left hand which symbolizes his role as Salvator Mundi as well as symbolizing the “celestial sphere” of the heavens. The artwork was sold at auction by Christie’s in New York on November 15, 2017, fetching $450.3 million, making it the most expensive painting ever sold.

The painting was sold to Prince Badr bin Abdullah. It is considered one of the most valuable paintings.

Interchange (1955) by Willem de Kooning: $328 Million

Dutch-American artist Willem de Kooning produced the abstract expressionist oil painting Interchange in 1955. It is the second most expensive art to be sold. De Kooning’s transition from depicting women to abstract urban settings was marked by the creation of Interchange. The painting’s subject matter is that of a flesh-toned center which represents a woman sitting down.

The painting marks his entry into his period of Abstract Expressionism.

The impact created on the painting due to de Kooning’s change in subject matter and technique created a very hefty-priced painting. The artist initially fetched $4,000 for the artwork in 1955. The David Geffen Foundation later sold it to Kennith C. Griffin for $300 million, thus putting it in the rank of the most expensive painting.

It is now second in that rank, just behind Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci.

The Card Players (1894 – 1895) by Paul Cézanne: $250 Million

Paul Cézanne, a French Modernist painter, created a sequence of Impressionist paintings titled The Card Players. The painting is considered impressionistic as the style of the painting is swift and loose and almost seems unfinished.

There are five different variations of the artwork in the series. The men are seen intently focused on the game of cards with no need for conversation.

The Card Players (1894 – 1895) by Paul Cézanne, located in the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, France; Paul Cézanne, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The painting is calm with little emotion. This artwork’s sense of calm was a major shift from his previous artworks displaying scenes of heightened emotion and drama. The Royal Family of Qatar purchased one of the editions of The Card Players in 2011 for approximately $250 million.

Nafea Faa Ipoipo? (1892) by Paul Gauguin: $229 Million

Paul Gauguin, a French Post-Impressionist, painted Nafea Faa Ipoipo? (When Will you Marry?) in oil in 1892. When Gauguin first visited Tahiti in 1891, he was inspired to produce this piece of art. His aim whilst traveling to Tahiti was to find inspiration to create ‘primitive’ art rather than the usual art created by French artists.

When he arrived in Tahiti, it was quite different from what he anticipated it to be. His hope for creating art based on the “primitive” culture had been wiped out.

Nafea Faa Ipoipo? (1892) by Paul Gauguin, located in a private collection; Paul Gauguin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

However, he proceeded to paint many images of Tahitian women wearing traditional dress as well as nude. One of these paintings was Nafea Faa Ipoipo? In this artwork, we see in a traditional dress a younger-looking female stretching forward to the ground. Behind her, we see a woman in a western-style dress who is raising her hand. This was one of the first paintings he created while in Tahiti and it displays the freedom of imagination he acquired while visiting.

Rudolf Staechelin’s family sold the artwork personally to Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani in 2015 for about $229 million. The painting has since been loaned to exhibitions to be displayed.

The Standard Bearer (1636) by Rembrandt: $197.9 Million

Rembrandt, a Dutch Golden Age painter, painted The Standard Bearer, a three-quarter-length self-portrait. The Standard Bearer is regarded as an influential and significant early work that demonstrated his desire to produce a group portrait for the Amsterdam militia for which the most esteemed painter would be selected.

In this artwork, we see Rembrandt depicted as a middle-aged man of at least 50 years of age.

The Standard Bearer (1636) by Rembrandt, located in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Rembrandt, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

He is seen wearing a large hat slightly turned off to the side. Steel armor covers his chest with one hand holding the staff of a banner. The colors are rich in tone, giving off a comforting feeling throughout the painting. In December 2021, the Dutch government declared its desire to purchase the artwork for the country’s collection.

Portarits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit (1634) by Rembrandt: $197 Million

Portarits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit by Rembrandt was created in 1634. The combined paintings were portraits that were completed on oil on canvas. In the artwork, Maerten Soolmans is shown on the left-hand side with Oopjen Coppit displayed on the right.

It is known that the paintings were finished separately but have stayed side by side since their completion, and are to stay alongside each other for a good while still.

Portarits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit (1634) by Rembrandt, located in both the Rijksmuseum and Louvre (joint ownership); Rembrandt, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

They were sold together for $180 million, making these artworks his most expensive to be acquired. It was decided by the Rothschild family to sell these masterpieces to the two museums that were keen to purchase them, which were the Louvre Museum in Paris and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

These museums take turns in displaying the artworks for the public to enjoy.

Les Femmes d’Alger (“Version O) (1955) by Pablo Picasso: $179.4 Million

Les Femmes d’Alger was part of a series of 15 paintings and multiple drawings created by Spanish artist, Pablo Picasso. He began to paint the series in 1954 and began his first version a few weeks after the death of his dear friend Henri Matisse, leading to these series of paintings having strong associations with Matisse.

The artworks were also inspired by Eugène Delacroix and his painting, The Women of Algiers (1834). It is said that Picasso would visit the painting multiple times to study it.

The painting holds much meaning and symbolism and was purchased by a private collector who is believed to be Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, Qatar’s prime minister. The painting was purchased for a hefty price of $179.4 million at a Christie’s auction in May 2015. Before this purchase, the series belonged to Sally and Victor Ganz.

Later, the series of paintings would be purchased by the Saidenberg Gallery.

Nu Couché (1917) by Amedo Modigliani: $170.4 Million

The highest auction price ever paid at Sotheby’s New York was $157.2 million for the 1917 painting Nu couché (sur le côté gauche), which can be translated to “Reclining Nude” in English. The painting shows a naked female figure lying in an almost seductive position.

Nu couché (sur le côté gauche), an artwork created by Amedeo Modigliani 100 years ago, is the most well-known example of the renowned series in which he reinterpreted the nude for the Modern era.

Nu Couché (1917) by Amedeo Modigliani, located in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, United States; Amedeo Modigliani, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

It was evident how startling and fascinating Modigliani’s nudity remains to be at Tate Modern’s celebrated exhibition of the artist’s work, which featured Nu couché (sur le côté gauche) as its headline feature. Nu couché (sur le côté gauche) stands out as Modigliani’s largest painting and the only one of his linear nudes to completely enclose the body on the canvas, in addition to being the best portrayal in the series.

Three Studies of Lucian Freud (1969) by Francis Bacon: $142.4 Million

The oil on canvas painting Three Studies of Lucian Freud was created by Irish artist Francis Bacon. Bacon and Freud were known to be artistic rivals yet remained friends. Their friendship began in 1945 when they were introduced by artist Graham Sutherland. The two artists bonded over art and created multiple portraits of each other, however, their friendship ended due to an argument they had in the mid-1970s.

The first artwork was created by Bacon, which resulted in Three Studies of Lucian Freud. The three panels in this artwork showcase Bacon’s well-known abstract and distorted style.

The paintings showcase Freud sitting on a wooden chair that sits within a cage with a solid orange background. The three paintings were created in 1969 at the Royal College of Art in London, where Bacon had a studio large enough to create the paintings at the same time.

In the middle of the 1970s, the three panels were sold individually. Bacon did not approve of this as he believed that the three panels were useless if they were not showcased as one.

Up until the late 1980s, several collectors kept the artworks apart. A collector from Rome eventually worked to reassemble the three panels. The three paintings were sold for $142.4 million to Elaine Wynn at a Christie’s auction in 2013.

Twelve Landscape Screens (1925) by Qi Baishi: $140.8 Million

Twelve Landscape Screens was produced in 1925 by the artist, who is widely known for his calligraphy and brush paintings. It is the largest of the twelve-landscape screens format and has the most expressive style among Qi Baishi’s artistic alterations. Of all the Chinese artists who worked in the 20th century, he is regarded as having the most influence.

Twelve Landscape Screens, created by the artist when he was 62 years old, reflects the painter’s passion for capturing diverse landscapes, which prompted him to travel extensively around his home in China.

When the painting sold at auction for $140.8 million in 2017, setting a world record for an Asian work of art, it created history. At his only show presented by the China Artists Association in April 1954, this collection of Twelve Screens of Landscapes was first on view.

It was later displayed in 1958, a year after the artist died, in a memorial exhibition of his works.

This painting is the first Chinese artwork to sell for more than $100 million, in addition to being the most expensive Chinese work of art. Around 1932, the artist painted a second set of the Twelve Landscape Screens as a present for Wang Zuanxu, a Kuomintang general from Sichuan. Now, it is kept in the Chongqing Museum.

Reclining Nude with Blue Cushion (1916) by Amedeo Modigliani: $133 Million

Amedeo Modigliani was an Italian artist who created the oil on canvas painting Reclining Nude with Blue Cushion in 1916. Modigliani is known for his nude portraits and this painting is just one of many that he created. The nude paintings he created were always done objectively.

The painting depicts a nude woman laying on her side, resting upon a light blue cushion. Her right hand is resting upon her head, with the left behind her body, invisible to the viewer.

Reclining Nude with Blue Cushion (1916) by Amedeo Modigliani, located in the private collection of Dmitry Rybolovlev; Amedeo Modigliani, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In the year 1916 when Reclining Nude with Blue Cushion was created, Modigliani was highly productive with his artistic career, creating numerous well-known works. The position of the female’s body is reminiscent of the goddess Venus and the way she is usually depicted in art. The colors of the subject’s body are fair, which contrasts with the dark background that consists of hues of red. The pale blue cushion stands out in the painting’s surrounding colors. The painting was commissioned by art dealer Leopold Zborowski.

When the painting was first displayed in Paris, along with other nude portraits done by Modigliani, it was shut down by the police due to the shock it created at the time. The painting was sold in 2012 to an art collector, Dmitry Rybolovlev.

The Scream (1895) by Edvard Munch: $119.9 Million

The Scream is a well-known painting with its name suitably given to it due to its composition. Norwegian artist Edvard Munch painted The Scream in 1895. This painting has become one of the most well-known pieces of art due to the iconic image of a human with a face letting out a scream with a facial expression of horror and shock. The painting is said to symbolize the worries of human life. The Scream would go on to rank among the Expressionist movement’s most important works of art.

The painting was inspired by a walk that Munch had gone on when he turned around the sunset had suddenly turned blood red.

The Scream (1895) by Edvard Munch, located in the National Museum in Oslo, Norway; Edvard Munch, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Through this he sensed a scream cascading throughout nature. According to legend, the artwork depicts a fjord with Oslo in the background. Two versions of the artwork were created with paint and another two were created with pastel. Both paintings had been stolen but have since been found.

The 1895 version of the painting was created with pastel and was sold at Sotheby’s in London for $120 million in 2012.

The bidding for the painting started at $40 million and lasted for only 12 minutes until Leon Black called the final bid. This version of The Scream is said to be the most showstopping of the two, thanks to its great vibrancy and color.

Young Girl with a Flower Basket (1905) by Pablo Picasso: $115 Million

Young Girl with a Flower Basket was painted by Pablo Picasso in a new studio of his that was on the top floor of an old building at 13 rue Ravingnan. It was created in the Fall of 1905 after his trip to the countryside in Holland, which inspired much of his works during that year. The young woman selling flowers in the picture is depicted as such.

She is pictured carrying a basket of red flowers and has dark hair with ribbons. Flat blocks of color are used throughout the painting, along with simple lines.

Picasso named the young woman in the picture “Linda”, which is Spanish for “beautiful”, according to Christie’s. The young girl’s life story is obscure in the image. Egyptian art is also evident in the artwork. Ranked one of the highest-priced paintings, in 2018 it was sold at a Christie’s auction for $115 million.

It ranks as Picasso’s third most expensive artwork.

Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster) (1963) by Andy Warhol: $105.4 Million

In the summer of 1963, Andy Warhol made the painting Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster). It is considered one of his most ambitious artworks ever undertaken due to its large scale. A body is shown twisted inside the crumpled inside of a silver car in the serigraph, Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster). Warhol was 35 years old at the time that he produced the work.

It is the artist’s final serigraph that is kept in a private collection.

In the previous 26 years, it was only in a public exhibit once. His Death and Disaster series included this painting. The piece of art was owned by a European art connoisseur for 20 years. In a competitive auction of modern art pieces held by Sotheby’s in November 2013, five bidders battled it out for the serigraph, raising the price to $105 million.

The winning contestant’s identity was never made public.

Garçon à la Pipe (1905) by Pablo Picasso: $104.2 Million

Garçon à la Pipe is a painting created by Pablo Picasso in oil on canvas. When Picasso was 24 years old he created the painting in 1905 during what was known as his Rose Period. Picasso completed the work in 1905, at the age of 24, during the period known as his Rose Period.

Previous studies of this painting were created.

The final depiction of the artwork is surrounded by mystery. It is known as one of the most show-stopping paintings of Picasso’s Rose Period. The painting is one of Picasso’s most expensive sold, selling at Sotheby’s auction for $104 million in 2004 to a private buyer.

It is Picasso’s fifth highest-priced painting ever sold.

Nurse (1964) by Roy Lichtenstein: $95.4 Million

Nurse by Roy Lichtenstein was painted at the height of his artistic career. It is celebrated due to its bold imagery and redirected art into a new era of modern art. The painting is of one of Lichtenstein’s signature heroines. Her face consists of striking features and bold colors.

The painting is considered an icon of the pop art movement, which consists of the artist’s iconic Ben-Day dots.

Nurse (1964) by Roy Lichtenstein, located in a private collection; © Estate of Roy Lichtenstein, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The image was inspired by a comic romance novel from the early 1960s, however, it is not known which novel it is from exactly. An anonymous buyer paid $95,365,000 for Nurse on November 9, 2015, setting a record price for a work by an American pop artist at the time.

At one time, it was the 34th highest-priced painting to be sold.

Chop Suey (1929) by Edward Hopper: $91.9 Million

Chop Suey is an artwork created by American artist Edward Hopper. The painting is to be seen visually, however; it gives off the sense that we can hear the chatter in the background of the restaurant as well as feel the textures in the painting.

Hopper’s artworks are known for giving off all different types of senses as well as simple everyday scenes of human life.

Chop Suey (1929) by Edward Hopper, located in a private collection; Edward Hopper, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Chop Suey depicts Hopper’s memory of certain aspects of a scene that have been portrayed in the painting. The painting focuses on the way the light hits the subjects in the painting. There is also a sense of loneliness throughout the painting although it is placed in a social setting.

The artwork previously belonged to Barney A. Ebsworth, however, at his death, the painting was sold in 2018 for $92 million, which was the highest price paid for this artist’s work.

Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) (1972) by David Hockney: $90.3 Million

Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) was created by Pop art artist David Hockney. He was inspired to create the painting when he first visited California in January 1964. When he was in an aircraft flying over San Bernardino, he looked down and saw swimming pools with the sun cascading over them and became increasingly excited to arrive in the city of California.

The first of his pool paintings were created and they became a reoccurring subject in his paintings.

Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) was created in 1972 and was one of his later poolside paintings. This painting was one of his most influential artworks. In 2018, the painting was sold to an anonymous bidder for $90.3 million at Christie’s auction house.

This set the record for the highest-sold painting for a living artist’s work.

Orange, Red, Yellow (1961) by Mark Rothko: $86.9 Million

Orange, Red, Yellow is an acrylic on canvas Color Field painting that was created in 1961 by Mark Rothko. At the time it was considered the most expensive painting in history to be sold. The painting reflects the artist’s tasteful style.

The painting is simple and mature with three rectangles set on a background that seems to be separate from them, almost as if the rectangles are floating in the space.

Orange, Red, Yellow is one of Rothko’s most famous works. His goal was to allow the viewer to feel a range of emotions associated with the colors in the painting. The painting was sold in 2012 at Christie’s auction house for $86.9 million to a private collector.

Triptych (1976) by Francis Bacon: $86.3 Million

Triptych (1976) is a largely scaled triptych painting created by artist Francis Bacon in 1976. Triptych consists of three large panels with abstract shapes and opaque colors. He created the artwork using his well-known technique of starting with the left panel and ending on the right. The piece was inspired by classical Greek iconography.

Triptych (1976) is one of Bacon’s most impactful paintings as it drew inspiration from emotions such as human suffering. The painting was sold in 2008 in a Sotheby’s auction for $86 million and is kept in a private collection.

Suprematist Composition (1916) by Kazimir Malevich: $85.8 Million

Suprematist Composition is an oil on canvas painting created by geometric abstraction painter Kazimir Malevich in 1916. The painting was kept by the artist until June 1927. Suprematist Composition is a visual manifesto of Malevich as it visually describes suprematism’s philosophies and goals. Geometric patterns and primary hues are used in the painting. The painting traveled to many different owners including the living heirs to Malevich.

It was sold to art dealer Brett Gorvy for $85.8 million at a Christie’s auction in 2018. It was the highest price ever sold on a single piece of Russian art.

Suprematist Composition (1915) by Kazimir Malevich, located in a private collection; Kazimir Malevich, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Nymphéas en Fleur (1914 – 1917) by Claude Monet: $84.7 Million

Monet focused solely on painting the famous water lily pond that he had created and nurtured at his home in the rural Giverny region for the final two decades of his life. He captured the continually changing interactions between water, reflections, atmosphere, and light that changed the pond’s surface within the fleeting moment.

These now-famous works of art upheld Monet’s long-held belief that vision and experience come first, but in a way that was completely unique. The painting was bought at a Christie’s auction for $84.7 million in 2018.

Nymphéas (1914 – 1917) by Claude Monet, located in a private collection; Claude Monet, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Black Fire I (1961) by Barnett Newman: $84.2 Million

American painter Barnett Newman is regarded as one of the most significant Abstract Expressionists. Black Fire I is a magnificent work of abstract expressionism by Barnett Newman that wonderfully encapsulates his extreme minimalism and unique style.

Only three of the large set of black pigment paintings on exposed canvas that Newman produced between 1958 and 1966 now exist.

These represent a large portion of his work. In 2014, at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, Black Fire I by Barnett Newman was sold to a private collector for $84.2 million during a telephone bidding war, which exceeded the starting bid of $50 million.

Portrait of Dr. Gachet (1890) by Vincent van Gogh: $82.5 Million

One of Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh’s most admired works is his Portrait of Dr. Gachet. Van Gogh lived with Dr. Paul Gachet, a homeopathic physician, and artist, after spending time in an asylum at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. During Van Gogh’s final months alive, Dr. Gachet spent his time looking after him as well as becoming a muse for the artwork Portrait of Dr. Gachet.

There are two versions of the painting, both depicting Dr. Gachet leaning his head on his arm whilst sitting at a table.

Portrait of Dr. Gachet (1890) by Vincent van Gogh, located in the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, France; Vincent van Gogh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Hermann Göring later seized and sold the first version of the painting, which had been purchased by the Städel in Frankfurt in 1911. It was the most expensive artwork in the world when it was sold at auction to Ryoei Saito in May 1990 for $82.5 million.

Naturally, inflation has increased the value of the picture today.

Triple Elvis (1963) by Andy Warhol: $81.9 Million

Andy Warhol, an American painter, depicted Elvis Presley in Triple Elvis in 1963. The portrait of Elvis that Warhol chose as the inspiration for this piece, taken from a publicity still for the film Flaming Star, has become recognizable and associated with the musician. Warhol’s goals and his emphasis on outward appearance rather than internal analysis were perfectly matched to this public character, which was manufactured as Campbell’s Soup.

In November 2014 at a Christie’s auction that took place in New York, Triple Elvis sold for $81.9 million.

No. 10 (1958) by Mark Rothko: $81.9 Million

No. 10 by Mark Rothko is a painting that was painted at the height of Mark Rothko’s artistic career. It was created out of materials one can find in their household yet it is one of his greatest paintings. He aimed to create an artwork that can speak to the viewers using color.

The colors are rich and intense and leave a sense of comfort as it is something one would want to have displayed in their living space.

His paintings’ vibrancy had faded by 1958, and a stark, menacing palette had taken center stage, marking the start of what many consider to be one of his art’s most important phases. In 2015, the painting was bought by a private buyer for $81.9 million.

Muele (1890) by Claude Monet: $81.4 Million

The master of impressionism, Claude Monet, had a fond interest in creating various paintings in series. Meule, meaning the one with the haystacks, is his most famous painting in a series and was also the first painting that he ever exhibited.

There are 15 paintings in the series, all depicting varying times of the day.

Meule was inspired by the fields opposite Monet’s first house where stacks of hay were seen laying neatly on the field. The perspective of the painting was unique, and the composition was created with diagonal lines.  The painting was bought by a private art collector at a Christie’s auction in 2016 for $81.4 million.

This made Monet’s Meule his most expensive work ever sold.

Laboureur dans un Champ (1889) by Vincent van Gogh: $81.3 Million

Laboureur dans un Champ was created a year before Van Gogh’s death whilst he resided in the asylum of Saint-Paul-de-Mausole. It was created in a determined effort to heal himself through art. Laboureur dans un Champ was a monumental moment for Van Gogh as he had not painted for a month and a half.

This painting was a reflection of what Van Gogh would see every morning through the windows of the asylum. The painting was sold in 2017 to a private art collector for $81.3 million.

Laboureur dans un Champ (Field with Plowing Farmers) (1889) by Vincent van Gogh, located in a private collection; Vincent van Gogh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Odalisque couchée aux Magnolias (1923) by Henri Matisse: $80.8 Million

In 1923 Henri Matisse was at the height of his artistic career. Odalisque couchée aux Magnolias was a painting he created of his most favored model Henriette Darricarrère in the opulent setting of his Nice studio, she is lazing in the bright sunlight. When you first see it, the vibrant colors and flawless harmony, and proportion of the composition captivate you.

It is a famous painting that perfectly captures Matisse’s style. The painting was sold in 2018 to a private bidder for $80.8 million.

Le Bassin aux Nymphéas (1919) by Claude Monet: $80.5 Million

Monet frequently went to his garden to find inspiration. He produced various water lily-themed canvases between the years 1903 and 1908. Near the end of his life, he revisited the topic. Monet emphasizes the water’s surface in each of these works.

Only their mirror in the water is depicted, with no indication of the land or sky.

Le Bassin aux Nymphéas (1919) by Claude Monet, located in a private collection; Claude Monet, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

A good example is Le Bassin aux Nymphéas (1919), where the willows are only visible in the reflection. The water reflects the sky’s white clouds, making the sky and the water’s blue the same color. The painting was sold in 2008 for $80.5 million at a Christie’s auction.

Paintings are sold every second of every day for different prices, but only some are sold for extremely high prices. These works are sold for high prices for a reason, whether it be for the artist’s title or the simple beauty of the artwork being sold. We have gone into detail about 30 of the most expensive paintings that were sold, however, there are many more that are worth the search!

Take a look at our expensive paintings webstory here!

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Is the Mona Lisa Worth?

According to Stéphane Distinguin, the CEO of the technology firm Fabernovel, the Mona Lisa (1503) by Leonardo da Vinci would be auctioned in 2022 for a minimum of $53,729,008.08. Nevertheless, a different contradictory story asserts that the painting’s value was estimated at $100 million in 1962.

What Is the Most Valuable Painting?

After a protracted 19-minute bidding battle, Salvator Mundi was eventually sold for the highest amount of money ever paid for an item of art. The victorious bidder, Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, was later discovered to have purchased the piece from a private European collection.

Why Is the Mona Lisa Not on the List for Most Expensive Paintings?

The Mona Lisa (1503) by Leonardo da Vinci is considered priceless as it was never sold and is kept safe in the Louvre Museum in Paris. It is considered extremely valuable; therefore, a selling price has never been allocated to the painting.

Jordan Anthony( Content Editor, Art Writer, Photographer )

Jordan Anthony is a Cape Town-based film photographer, curator, and arts writer. She holds a Bachelor of Art in Fine Arts from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, where she explored themes like healing, identity, dreams, and intuitive creation in her Contemporary art practice. Jordan has collaborated with various local art institutions, including the KZNSA Gallery in Durban, the Turbine Art Fair, and the Wits Art Museum. Her photography focuses on abstract color manipulations, portraiture, candid shots, and urban landscapes. She’s intrigued by philosophy, memory, and esotericism, drawing inspiration from Surrealism, Fluxus, and ancient civilizations, as well as childhood influences and found objects. Jordan is working for artfilemagazine since 2022 and writes blog posts about art history and photography.

Learn more about Jordan Anthony and about us.