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LIST OF MOST EXPENSIVE PAINTINGS

This is an incomplete list, which may never be able to satisfy certain standards for completeness. Revisions and additions are welcome.

This is a list of the highest prices paid for paintings. Very valuable paintings, if sold, are usually sold at auction.

Most of the world's most famous paintings are owned by museums, which very rarely sell them. As such, they are quite literally priceless; if a painting like the Mona Lisa were to become available, it would almost certainly sell for much more than any of the paintings listed below. The Guinness Book of Records lists the Mona Lisa as having the highest insurance value for a painting in history. It was assessed at US$100 million on December 14, 1962, before the painting toured the U.S. for several months. However, the Louvre chose to spend the money on security rather than insurance. Taking inflation into account, the 1962 value would be approximately US$670 million in 2006.

List of highest prices paid at auction (inflation adjusted)

Note - this list is ordered by inflation-adjusted value in United States dollars. A list in another currency would probably be in a slightly different order due to exchange rate fluctuations.

  1. Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I by Gustav Klimt
    • Sold for $135 million on June 18, 2006 in a private sale (time value:$135 million)
  2. Portrait of Dr. Gachet by Vincent van Gogh
  3. Bal au moulin de la Galette, Montmartre by Pierre-Auguste Renoir
    • Sold for $78 million on May 17, 1990 at Sotheby's, New York (time value: $110,422,686.71) †
  4. Garçon à la pipe by Pablo Picasso
  5. Dora Maar au Chat by Pablo Picasso
  6. Irises by Vincent van Gogh
    • Sold for $49 million on November 11, 1987 at Sotheby's, New York (time value: $78,402,796.71).
  7. Massacre of the Innocents by Peter Paul Rubens
    • Sold for £49.5 million ($76.7 million) on July 10, 2002 at Sotheby's, London (time value: $77,927,200.00)
  8. Les Noces de Pierrette by Pablo Picasso
  9. Portrait de l'artiste sans barbe by Vincent van Gogh
    • Sold for $65 million on November 19, 1998 at Christie's, New York (time value: $71,691,040.02).
  10. Rideau, Cruchon et Compotier by Paul Cézanne
    • Sold for $60.5 million on May 10, 1999 at Sotheby's, New York (later resold at a loss)
  11. Femme aux Bras Croisés by Pablo Picasso
    • Sold for $50 million on November 8, 2000 at Christie's, New York (time value: $52,851,507.20).

Highest prices paid at auction (not adjusted for inflation)

It is more common in the media to quote figures which have not been adjusted for inflation. This type of list also is often shown on websites. [1] [2] [3]

  1. Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I by Gustav Klimt
    • Sold for $135 million on June 18, 2006 in a private sale
  2. Garçon à la pipe by Pablo Picasso
  3. Dora Maar au Chat by Pablo Picasso
  4. Portrait of Dr. Gachet by Vincent van Gogh
  5. Bal au moulin de la Galette, Montmartre by Pierre-Auguste Renoir
    • Sold for $78 million on May 17, 1990 at Sotheby's, New York
  6. Massacre of the Innocents by Peter Paul Rubens
  7. Portrait de l'artiste sans barbe by Vincent van Gogh
  8. Rideau, Cruchon et Compotier by Paul Cézanne
    • Sold for $60.5 million on May 10, 1999 at Sotheby's, New York (later resold at a loss)
  9. Femme aux Bras Croisés by Pablo Picasso
  10. Irises by Vincent van Gogh
  11. Les Noces de Pierrette by Pablo Picasso

Notes