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Top 10 Most Expensive Paintings Sold (April 11, 2008) |
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Everything in life is subjective. What actually is art is even more subjective. What some people praise may be subject to mocking from others. This probably rings truest for paintings. Just ask some of the painters that created the following masterpieces.
The following ten crafts are the paintings that have been sold for the highest amounts at auction. Surely many of these and others could fetch far more anonymously.
NB: The dollars are stated in U.S. dollars.
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Number 10
Self Portrait: Yo Picasso, Pablo Picasso If you thought that Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods dominated record books, allow me to introduce one Pablo Picasso. While Picasso does not totally dominate this list of all-time most expensive paintings, he sure does get enough mentions to reinforce his reputation as one of the greatest painters of all-time. He definitely makes the most appearances on this list, as his record of 190 paintings that have sold for more than $1 million at auction would suggest. His first entry on this list is "Self Portrait: Yo Picasso." Painted in 1901, this work of art was inspired at least partially by the suicide of Picasso's friend, Casagemas. The period that followed was labeled the blue period. On May 9, 1989, this painting was scooped up for the bargain basement price of $47.85 million at Sotheby's in New York.
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Number 9Le Rêve, Pablo Picasso Painted in 1932, "Le Rêve" hints at Picasso's Cubism. This work shows a series of lines and curves that represent a woman with her head over her right shoulder. The painting comes with the usual amount of rumors circulating over the identity of the sleeping beauty, as some claim it is one of Pablo's many mistresses. On November 10, 1997, $48 million was paid out for this piece at Christie's in New York City.
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Number 8Irises, Vincent Van Gogh Part of a series on Irises, this painting has stood the test of time and emerged as one of the great masterpieces in Van Gogh's repertoire. Today, this one may fetch even more than the $49 million it garnered on November 11, 1987 at an auction in Sotheby's in New York City. "Irises" marked the tip of the iceberg for one of Van Gogh's many obsessions.
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Number 7Femme Assise Dans un Jardin, Pablo Picasso The woman in question was Dora Maar, one of Picasso's mistresses during the pre-war period. In typical Picasso fashion, the woman and the garden are indiscernible -- maybe because he painted this gem in one day. "Femme Assise Dans un Jardin" was sold at auction on November 10, 1999, for $49.5 million once again at New York City's Sotheby's.
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Number 6Les Noces de Pierrette, Pablo Picasso
The fourth Picasso painting to make this list, "Les Noces de Pierrette" was painted in 1905 during a period of impoverishment in the Spanish painter's life. Selling for a staggering $51.65 million at Binoche et Godeau in Paris, France, on November 30, 1989, this purchase marked the highest amount ever paid for a Picasso, at the time. A Japanese businessman was credited for this sale.
You haven't seen the last of Picasso just yet...
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Number 5
Rideau, Cruchon et Compotier, Paul Czanne Cézanne is often credited with being the "Father of Modern Painting." He gained notoriety during the Impressionist period even though he is most remembered as a "Post-Impressionist." This particular painting was purchased anonymously on May 10, 1999, at Sotheby's in New York City for the mesmerizing amount of $60 million, premium included.
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Number 4Femme aux Bras Croiss, Pablo Picasso Dislodging the previous record set by "Les Noces de Pierrette," "Femme aux Bras Croisés" was sold for a dizzying $65 million on November 8, 2000, at Christie's Rockefeller in New York City.
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Number 3
Portrait de l'artiste sans barbe, Vincent Van Gogh Painted for his mother before he took his own life, Van Gogh decided to shave his beard off and pose for a self-portrait. You'd imagine that his mother would have preferred to have Vincent hang around. In any case, on November 19, 1998, a buyer paid $71.5 million (including the $6.5 premium) at a Christie's auction in New York City. According to art market writer Stewart Waltzer, the auction house had originally estimated this self-portrait at $20 million. And they call themselves experts...
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Number 2Au Moulin de la Galette, Pierre-Auguste Renoir Two days after having set a record for the highest amount paid for a painting at auction, Japanese businessman Ryoei Saito searched his pocket for change and found an additional $78.1 million to purchase "Au Moulin de la Galette" for $71 million plus the premium. Unlike many of the other paintings on this list, "Au Moulin de la Galette" highlights a joyous feast-like event, with men courting women and a pleasant atmosphere emanating from the canvas. First exhibited at the third Impressionist Exhibition in 1877, many of the people in the painting are apparently the French painter's friend.
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Number 1
Portrait of Doctor Gachet, Vincent Van Gogh Six years before his death, Japanese businessman Ryoei Saito paid $82.5 million ($75 million dollars plus the 10% premium of $7.5 million) for Vincent Van Gogh's "Portrait of Doctor Gachet" in an auction at Christie's on May 15, 1990. The painting was painted in Van Gogh's latter months. Of note, the painter wrote of Dr. Gachet: "First of all, he is sicker than I am, I think, or shall we say just as much."
If that statement is not sad enough, the Japanese tycoon hinted at destroying the painting before his death so his offspring would avoid paying a massive inheritance tax. But the sad tale ended with Christie's paying one-eighth of the price to buy it back before Saito passed away.
The fact that these pieces are revered today would shock no one more than the creators. After all, most of them have only been praised posthumously. Talk about missing out on owner royalties...
By: Dennis O'Connell |
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