Most Expensive Painting in History

Paintings and art in general can often the put in the category of “finer things in life”. And while buying a framed painting of a boat for your living room might not set you back a lot, there are some art-works that cost unimaginable amounts of money.

Paul Gauguin is beyond any doubt one of the most celebrated French painters in the history of art and a testament to this is the fact that he is the author the most expensive painting in the world. His “When Will You Marry” painting which he drew in 1892 was sold in February, 2015 for the staggering $300 million. It depicts two Tahitian girls who are sitting in field near a pond. Gauguin painted his masterpiece during his first travel to the island of Tahiti. At the moment the painting is located in Qatar, but other works of his can be seen in Tate Britain. So, make sure that you visit England’s primary art gallery once your man and van in London is done.

American painter Mark Rothko is one the most prominent North American artists in history. Even thought Rothko vehemently refused to adhere to any art movement during his career, he is described a marvelous abstract expressionist. This explains why his “No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red)” painting was bought for $186 million by Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev.

Pablo Picasso is one of the world most recognisable painters and his 15 variations of “Les femmes d`Alger” (The Woman from Algiers) are amongst his most notable works. The Spanish painter drew his inspiration from French master Eugene Delacroix who in 1834 painted the “The Women of Algiers in their Apartment” which is currently displayed in the Louvre. From the 15 variations the “Version O” is considered to be the most important and an authentication to this is the painting’s price tag which is $179.3 million.

Throughout the years Britain has also produced its fair share of expensive and highly popular paintings, one of which is the “Three Studies of Lucian Freud” by Francis Bacon. The Irish-born painter is considered to be Britain’s finest artists alongside J.M.W. Turner and he created his extremely admired masterpiece in 1969. In 2013, the painting was sold at an auction for $145 million. Although in private hands you can see other works by Bacon if you visit the numerous art galleries in London once your man and van project in over.

Paul Cézanne is another extremely well-known French painter. Prior of Gauguin it was his “The Card Players” that was the most expensive work of art in history, as it was sold in 2011 for the mind blowing $274 million. The painting features two stony-faced card players. Cézanne used his gardener and farmer as models for the painting.

Vincent van Gogh is perhaps the most illustrious painter in history. Although he died in extreme poverty, his paintings are currently some of the most expensive in the world. His most valuable work is the “Portrait of Dr. Gachet”. Dr. Gachet was the medic who took care of him during his final months. The painting was bought by Japanese industrialist Ryoei Saito in 1990 for $152 million. Sadly today nobody knows the whereabouts of Van Gogh’s masterpiece as it was given by Saito’s heirs to the international art market to be sold, so that they can cover some of his debts. It was never sold and today it has literally disappeared.