Whether you’re interested in the most expensive paintings ever sold or want to learn about the history of the art market, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll discuss the most expensive art pieces in history, from Cezanne’s Sunflowers to Picasso’s Garcon a la Pipe. We’ll also talk about some of the lesser-known works of art that have sold for astronomical prices.
Cezanne’s painting was the most expensive art ever sold
Cezanne’s “The Card Players” was sold at auction for an astonishing $250 million. The French artist sold several versions of the same picture before finally settling on the most expensive one. The painting was also one of the most valuable works of art in the world at the time. The late industrialist Samuel Courtauld also bought the canvas. Christie’s estimates the painting will fetch eight to twelve million pounds, or roughly $16 million to $18.9 million dollars. The painting will be on display at the Christie’s London showroom through Dec. 23.
The royal family of Qatar has declined to comment on the purchase and the deal was conducted with a private dealer. However, multiple sources confirm that the purchase of the Cezanne painting shattered records for art sales. The Cezanne painting was previously owned by Greek shipping magnate George Embiricos, who lent it only rarely and was not movable by any offer. Since the painting was sold, it has been listed among the top five artworks in private ownership.
Van Gogh’s Sunflowers
A painting by Vincent van Gogh has reached the world’s highest price. It has been on sale for $1.2 billion and has become one of the most expensive works of art in history. The painting is a rare example of an artist’s ability to turn a simple subject into a masterpiece. The sunflower motif became so popular with the public that it became an art-world signature. The painting is so rare that it is often referred to as a Van Gogh flower, and it is also the subject of countless forgeries.
The most expensive painting by Van Gogh was sold by Christie’s for PS25 million, but it is not the only one to break the record. The original “Portrait of Dr. Gachet” by Leonardo da Vinci sold for $5 million in 1967, but Van Gogh’s Sunflowers holds that record. Another Van Gogh painting, a copy of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, sold for PS25 million in 1987. The copy was bought by the Japanese insurance company Yasuda, which is now called Sompo. It is displayed in its Tokyo headquarters museum.
Pablo Picasso’s Garcon a la Pipe
This painting is a work of art by Pablo Picasso from his Rose Period. This painting features a young Parisian boy in a seated position with a pipe in one hand and a garland of flowers on his head. It was sold for a record price of $104 million in 2004. Despite the work’s youthful appeal, the painting is an early Picasso piece, and its style is not immediately associated with his name. It depicts a boy in a position of innocence and adolescence, and its colour palette is predominantly pink and ochre.
Throughout his career, Picasso painted 15 versions of ‘O’. His final painting was completed in 1955. Although Picasso’s buyer remains anonymous, some art experts believe Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabar Al Thani was the buyer. This painting’s purchase has sparked debate within the art world, and the buyer of the painting is still unknown. Originally, Sally Ganz purchased the entire Picasso series, which she sold to Saidenberg Gallery.
Willem de Kooning’s Interchange
Willem de Kooning’s famous oil painting, Interchange, was completed in 1955. The Dutch-American artist was influenced by the urban environment of New York City and used this environment to create a famous abstract painting. The painting’s price, which was $300 million US in September 2015, set a new record for an original painting. Today, Interchange is on display at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Although de Kooning was known for using figurative language in his paintings, this painting is one of the most important abstract paintings. This painting is considered by many to be the pinnacle of Abstract Expressionism. This piece was purchased by the Kenneth C. Griffin, CEO of the Chicago-based Citadel, for $300 million in 2007.
