While some works of art are priceless, others have been sold with an astronomical price tag. The most expensive painting ever sold is the
The Mona Lisa is priceless. Any speculative price (some say over a billion dollars!) would probably be so high that not one person would be able or willing to purchase and maintain the painting. Moreover, the Louvre Museum would probably never sell it.
The Sotheby's auction for Gustav Klimt's final completed work sparked a 10-minute bidding war that far exceeded its initial $80 million price tag.
The Mona Lisa is one of the most valuable paintings in the world. It holds the Guinness World Record for the highest known painting insurance valuation in history at US$100 million in 1962, equivalent to $1 billion as of 2023.
Van Gogh produced numerous artworks during his lifetime, and each bears an unforgettable uniqueness. He has created some of the most recognizable pieces in art history, including the iconic The Starry Night (1889), estimated at between $70 million to $100 million.
Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci
The New York Times reported the buyer was acting for a Saudi prince, Bader bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan al-Saud—the painting has since been under the ownership of the Saudi Arabian culture ministry.
Picasso's 'La Gommeuse' oil on canvas painting worth $67.5 million. Among Pablo Picasso's famous paintings is La Gommeuse. Created between 1901 and 1902 during Picasso's Blue Period, this painting came to be worth $1.4 million in 1986. Since then, it saw a 5,600% value increase, landing it a $49.9 million price tag.
The most expensive painting ever sold is the Salvator Mundi, the Saviour of the World in English, attributed to Leonardo da Vinci.
Salvator Mundi by Leonardo Da Vinci is the most expensive painting ever to be sold.
Mona Lisa, also known as La Gioconda, is the wife of Francesco del Giocondo. This painting is painted as oil on wood. The original painting size is 77 x 53 cm (30 x 20 7/8 in) and is owned by the Government of France and is on the wall in the Louvre in Paris, France.
The world's largest canvas painting has sold at a Dubai auction for almost 228 million dirham ($62 million), putting it among the most expensive artworks ever to go under the hammer. Measuring over 17,000 square feet, “The Journey of Humanity” is roughly equivalent in size to four NBA-regulation basketball courts.
Once abandoned in a farm shed, a rediscovered Anthony van Dyck painting has sold for over $3 million at auction. The piece is a study for a later painting produced by the Flemish master called "St Jerome." The final painting is currently held by the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen in Rotterdam.
In October of 2021, the anticipated new valuation was tested at Sotheby's Marquee sale in London. A number of bidders were present and wanted their chance for the shredded Banksy painting. After a 10-minute bidding process, the half shredded painting had sold for 18.5 million GBP (25 Million USD).
It is owned by the French Government.
Part of the patrimoine of France, the Louvre is officially owned by the French government, with more than 60% of its funding coming from the government.
The Mona Lisa is valued at $850,000,000 because it is arguably the most famous painting in the world.
People from all over the world make the pilgrimage to her climate-controlled and bulletproof room in The Louvre Museum, Paris. Did you know that The Mona Lisa cannot be bought or sold? It belongs to the French people and there's even a law which prohibits it.
The Number 17A 1948, featuring Pollock's signature drip technique, measures 112 by 86 centimeters and is made from oil paint on fiberboard. It's no surprise that this vibrant piece of art is so highly valued, considering its energy-filled combination of shapes and colors.
Johannes Vermeer's "The Concert'', painted around 1664, was stolen together with Rembrandt's 'Storm on the Sea of Galilee' from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990. Until today it is considered the most valuable stolen artwork in history and has many oil painting reproductions.
How much is 'Sunflowers' worth? When Van Gogh's own copy of the original version went on auction at Christie's, as much as 40 million dollars was paid to purchase it. Taking into account inflation, this painting would have cost $100m. It was purchased by Tokyo-based Yasuda insurance company.
One key motivation for billionaire art collectors is the belief that art can be a store of value and a hedge against inflation. In times of economic uncertainty, many wealthy individuals turn to tangible assets like art as a way to protect their wealth.
1. Leonardo Da Vinci, Mona Lisa, 1503–19.
The President of the Pan-African Conglomerate, the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has again been ranked as the richest man in Africa for 12 years, according to Forbes. This was disclosed in a statement on Tuesday titled 'Forbes 2023 Index: Dangote Still Africa's richest for 12th consecutive year'.
Portrait of Dr Paul Gachet (1890): $152 Million
Sold in 1990 for a whopping $83 million, Portrait of Dr Paul Gachet, painted in 1890, is the most expensive Van Gogh painting. This Van Gogh painting's price generally span the millions; hence the current estimated value sits at $152 million.
Pop artist Andy Warhol's portrait of Marilyn Monroe is now the most expensive piece of artwork by an American artist ever sold at auction, after the colorful silk screen sold for a record-breaking $195 million including fees on Monday.
No, it's not illegal, you can copy other people's art. However, it is illegal to present your work as being original. You should attribute your art as having been copied from another person's work of art.