The 15 Most Expensive Paintings in the World

Did you know! Pablo Picasso’s first word was ‘prize which means ‘pencil’ in Spanish. He had completed his first painting, ‘Le Picador’ at the age of nine. He could not concentrate in school and was frequently thrown into detention cells where he passed the time by sketching incessantly.

The relentless efforts and talents of these masterminds have endured through the ages, and continue to do so in our age. Millions of people flock to museums to witness their incredible works of art.

While leaving those deft brushstrokes on the canvas, a 16th-century painter would never have thought that people would give up millions to get his work. Every blotch of color added and every line drawn would arrest thousands of eyes at numerous auctions.

To know about some invaluable masterpieces that have been claimed by the wealthiest hotshots at the drop of a gavel, just read on.

1. ‘Salvator Mundi’ by Leonardo da Vinci (US$450.3Million)

Painted by the Italian polymath circa 1490-1500, this is till date the world’s most expensive painting. Sold at a colossal amount of 450.3 million dollars on 15th November at Christie’s, it shattered past held records and made a jaw-dropping experience for the audience. The painting was taken away by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud through his Minister of Culture. There was a controversy regarding the originality of the work, which had changed several hands over time. Before Russian billionaire Dmitry E. Rybolovlev sold it in the 2017 auction, a project had ensued to unravel the hidden mysteries of this masterpiece.

1. ‘Nafea Faa Ipopo’ by Paul Gauguin (US$300 Million)

This is dated to the post-impressionist era in 1892. The French artist had spent a ‘self-imposed exile’ in Tahiti, French Polynesia, and was known to seek a “primitive” expression of spiritual and emotional elements in his work. The title of this work of art means “when will you marry”, featuring two native women of Tahiti. Reportedly the royal family of Qatar bought this painting in 2014 for $300 million.

1. ‘No 6- Violet Green and Red’ by Mark Rothko (US$186 Million)

One glance at this piece and your mind would be baffled. The title aptly describes the content of the painting, but do not get deceived by its looks. Painted in 1951 by Russian-American abstract expressionist Mark Rothko, it was purchased by Rybolovlev in 2014 from the Swiss dealer Yves Bouvier. Later Bouvier was entangled in a series of lawsuits filed against him for misrepresentation and overcharging of paintings. He had sold this painting to the Russian billionaire at half the price.

1. ‘Pendant Portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit’ by Rembrandt van Rijn (US$180 Million)

As a wedding gift for the couple, Dutch painter Rembrandt produced this pair of paintings in 1634. They were also his first full-length portraits. Having belonged to the Rothschild family, they were finally purchased jointly by Rijksmuseum and the Louvre for US$180 Million. The two portraits are never separated, although the two museums keep shuffling them from time to time. They were opened to the public for the first time in 2016 and now ranks amongst the most expensive paintings.

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