19/02/2025

Bali Sandblasting

Transforming Bali, One Blast At A Time

The 5 Most Expensive Paintings – EVER!

The 5 Most Expensive Paintings – EVER!

1. No. 5, 1948 by Jackson Pollock ($140,000,000?)

Unconfirmed rumors that continue to astound the art world now place this piece at the top of the list… at least for now. If true, the $140 million price tag would be the highest amount of money ever paid for a painting, topping the $135 million that was put up for the Gustav Klimt painting Portrait of Adele Block Bauer in June 2006.

Created by expressionist Jackson Pollock in his trademark “drip” style, this 4′ x 8′ painting is said to have been purchased by entertainment mogul David Geffen in November 2006

2. Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer by Gustav Klimt ($135,000,000)

The record-breaking sale – which followed a court order by the Austrian government to return the painting to Bloch-Bauer’s heir – was the conclusion of a years-long dispute over the painting being looted by Nazis during World War II.

Painted by Gustav Klimt in 1907, the portrait was purchased in 2006 by cosmetics heir Ronald S. Lauder.

3. Garcon a la Pipe by Pablo Picasso ($104,100,000)

Garcon a la Pipe was created during the artist’s famous Rose Period, during which Picasso painted with a cheerful orange and pink palette. The oil on canvas painting, measuring 100 × 81.3 cm (slightly over 39 × 32 inches), displays a Parisian boy holding a pipe in his left hand.

The record price auction at Sotheby’s New York on May 4, 2004 was a bit of a surprise to art buyers, since it was painted in the style not usually associated with this famous artist.

4. Dora Maar with Cat by Pablo Picasso ($95,200,000)

A big surprise followed in 2006, when this painting nearly doubled its presale estimate and netted a record $95,200,000 at auction at Sotheby’s in May 2006.

Painted in 1941, Picasso’s controversial portrait (one of his last) is mostly described as an unflattering depiction of his mistress, Dora Maar, who was an artist/photographer and mistress of Picasso whose relationship lasted ten long years during the 1930s and 40s. I take it that this view of her didn’t really help their relationship.

5. Portrait of Dr. Gachet by Vincent van Gogh ($82,500,000)

This painting by Vincent van Gogh suddenly became world-famous when a Japanese businessman by the name of Ryoei Saito paid $82.5 million for it at auction in Christie’s, New York. Saito was so attached to the painting that he wanted it to be cremated with him when he died. Saito died in 1996 … but the painting remains. I really would be a shame to see such a masterpiece destroyed because of this strange obsession.

Vincent van Gogh actually painted two versions of Dr Gachet’s portrait. You can view the other version, with a slightly different color scheme, at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.

Now, THAT is pretty insane! Who are these people?!? -paying hundreds of millions of dollars for home decor. WOW!