Art has been around since the dawn of time, and it continues to be one of the most popular forms of expression. Art is also one of the most expensive forms of expression, and some pieces have sold for astronomical amounts. So, what is the most a piece of art has sold for?
The record for the most expensive piece of art ever sold is held by Leonardo da Vinci’s painting, Salvator Mundi. The painting sold in November 2017 for $450 million. The painting was sold at Christie’s in New York City. The painting was commissioned by King Louis XII of France and Louis XII’s descendent, Charles I of England, owned it at one time. The painting had been lost and was rediscovered in 2005 and restored. After a long legal battle, it was eventually sold at auction.
The previous record for the most expensive piece of art was held by Picasso’s Women of Algiers (Version O), which sold for $179 million in May 2015. This painting was part of a series Picasso painted of the same subject in 1954-55. It was sold at Christie’s in New York City.
The next highest price was paid for another Leonardo da Vinci painting, the “Rockefeller” version of the “Virgin of the Rocks”. It sold for $450.3 million in November 2017. The painting was sold at Christie’s in London.
The fourth most expensive piece of art to ever sell is Interchange by Willem de Kooning, which sold for $300 million in September 2015. The painting was sold at Sotheby’s in New York City. Interchange was painted by the abstract expressionist artist in 1955.
The fifth most expensive piece of art sold is The Card Players by Paul Cézanne, which sold for $250 million in April 2011. The painting was sold at Christie’s in London. The painting was part of a series of five paintings that Cézanne painted of card players.
The record for the most expensive piece of art is held by Leonardo da Vinci’s painting, Salvator Mundi, which sold for $450 million in November 2017. The painting was sold at Christie’s in New York City. Women of Algiers (Version O) by Pablo Picasso and The Rockefeller version of the Virgin of the Rocks by Leonardo da Vinci both sold for $450.3 million. Willem de Kooning’s Interchange sold for $300 million in September 2015 and The Card Players by Paul Cézanne sold for $250 million in April 2011.
Discovering the Highest Price Paid for a Work of Art
Discovering the highest price paid for a work of art is an exciting adventure for the art enthusiast. The record-setting prices commanded by certain pieces of art can be dizzying, and it is always a thrill to find out who has paid the most for a piece of art.
The most expensive artwork ever sold is Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi, which sold for a staggering $450.3 million in 2017. This small painting of Jesus Christ was bought by an anonymous buyer at the Christie’s auction house in New York. The painting was originally thought to be a copy, but its authentication was restored after a painstaking restoration process.
The second most expensive artwork sold at auction was Picasso’s Les Femmes d’Alger, which was purchased for $179.4 million in 2015. This painting was sold by Christie’s in New York, and the buyer was anonymous. This work of art is part of a 15-work series inspired by the French artist Eugene Delacroix.
The third-highest price paid for a work of art at auction is Paul Gauguin’s Nafea Faa Ipoipo, which sold for $210 million in February 2015. This painting was sold by Sotheby’s in London and was bought by the Qatar Museums for their permanent collection.
The following table shows the ten highest-priced artwork ever sold at auction:
Artwork | Price | Year |
---|---|---|
Salvator Mundi (Leonardo da Vinci) | $450.3 million | 2017 |
Les Femmes d’Alger (Pablo Picasso) | $179.4 million | 2015 |
Nafea Faa Ipoipo (Paul Gauguin) | $210 million | 2015 |
The Card Players (Paul Cezanne) | $250 million | 2011 |
Number 17A (Jackson Pollock) | $200 million | 2015 |
No. 6 (Vasiliy Kandinsky) | $120 million | 2014 |
Meules (Claude Monet) | $110.7 million | 2018 |
The Scream (Edvard Munch) | $119.9 million | 2012 |
Woman III (Willem de Kooning) | $137.5 million | 2006 |
Adele Bloch-Bauer I (Gustav Klimt) | $150 million | 2006 |
These are just a few of the artwork which have broken the record for highest price paid at auction. As the art market evolves and more and more pieces are bought and sold, the potential for record-breaking prices increases all the time.
Exploring the Record Breaking Sale of the Most Expensive Piece of Art
The world of art has seen some of the most outrageous amounts of money spent on a single piece of art. From the iconic works of Leonardo da Vinci, to the modern digital works of Banksy, one thing is for certain, the art world has seen some of the highest prices paid for any single piece of art.
In 2018, the most expensive piece of art ever sold was a painting by Italian master, Leonardo da Vinci, called “Salvator Mundi.” The painting was sold to an anonymous bidder for a staggering $450 million.
This amount broke the previous record of $179.4 million by Pablo Picasso’s “Les Femmes d’Alger (Version O)”, which was sold at an auction in 2015.
The painting was owned by Chain Yi, a Malaysian businessman who bought the painting at an auction in 2013 for $127.5 million, tripling his investment in just 5 years.
The painting is estimated to have been made sometime around 1500 AD and it is an oil painting on wood panel of the face of Jesus Christ, two angels, five rocks, and a mountain. It was in a state of disrepair and required extensive restoration before it could be sold.
The painting had been owned by various people for centuries, including the British Royal family. It was assumed to be a copy of the original and was sold for the relatively low sum of £45 in 1958. It was not until recently that it was revealed to be the original painting.
The painting is now owned by an anonymous bidder and is currently on display at the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum. It is estimated that the painting will be on public display for at least 10 years.
The record breaking sale of the most expensive piece of art is a testament to the ever-growing value of art and the potential investment potential it presents.
The sale of this painting has certainly opened up the possibility of other masterpieces becoming extremely valuable and expensive investments in the art market.
The most a piece of art has sold for was $450,312,500 USD, for Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Salvator Mundi’ in 2017.
Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Salvator Mundi’ sold for $450,312,500 USD in 2017.
The highest price ever paid for a painting was $450,312,500 USD for Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Salvator Mundi’ in 2017.
Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Salvator Mundi’ holds the record as the most expensive piece of art, selling for $450,312,500 USD in 2017.
Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Salvator Mundi’ sold for $450,312,500 USD in 2017, making it the most expensive painting by any artist.
Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Salvator Mundi’ holds the record for the most expensive sale, selling for $450,312,500 USD in 2017.
The highest amount ever paid for an art piece was $450,312,500 USD for Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Salvator Mundi’ in 2017.
Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Salvator Mundi’ was sold for the most money, at $450,312,500 USD in 2017.
The most expensive piece of art ever sold was Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Salvator Mundi’ for $450,312,500 USD in 2017.
Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Salvator Mundi’ was sold for the highest price, at $450,312,500 USD in 2017.