Accessibility links

Subscribe
All RFE/RL sites
site logo site logo
Previous Next
Breaking News
Photo Galleries

The World's Most Expensive Paintings

Norwegian painter Edvard Munch's "The Scream" made headlines this week when it became the most expensive painting ever auctioned. RFE/RL looks at some of the other masterpieces that have sold for astronomical sums.
Sotheby's employees pose with Norwegian artist Edvard Munch's 1895 pastel-on-board version of "The Scream," which went up for auction in London on May 2.
1 Sotheby's employees pose with Norwegian artist Edvard Munch's 1895 pastel-on-board version of "The Scream," which went up for auction in London on May 2.
The painting broke auction records by selling for almost $120 million.
2 The painting broke auction records by selling for almost $120 million.
The most expensive painting ever sold to date is Paul Cezanne's "The Card Players" (1890-92), which was sold by a private owner to Qatar for $250 million last year. 
3 The most expensive painting ever sold to date is Paul Cezanne's "The Card Players" (1890-92), which was sold by a private owner to Qatar for $250 million last year. 
Austrian Gustav Klimt is another artist whose work sells for huge amounts of money. His 1907 painting "Adele Bloch-Bauer I" sold for $135 million in 2006.
4 Austrian Gustav Klimt is another artist whose work sells for huge amounts of money. His 1907 painting "Adele Bloch-Bauer I" sold for $135 million in 2006.
Another portrait of the same woman "Adele Blocher-Bauer II" was also sold in 2006 for nearly $90 million.
5 Another portrait of the same woman "Adele Blocher-Bauer II" was also sold in 2006 for nearly $90 million.
Pablo Picasso's "Nude, Green Leaves and Bust" (1932) held the previous auction record. It was sold at Christie's in New York for more than $106 million in 2010. 
6 Pablo Picasso's "Nude, Green Leaves and Bust" (1932) held the previous auction record. It was sold at Christie's in New York for more than $106 million in 2010. 
Not surprisingly for such a high-profile artist, many of Pablo Picasso's works appear on lists of most expensive paintings. His "Dora Maar au chat" fetched more than $95 million at Sotheby's in 2006.
7 Not surprisingly for such a high-profile artist, many of Pablo Picasso's works appear on lists of most expensive paintings. His "Dora Maar au chat" fetched more than $95 million at Sotheby's in 2006.
Picasso's early work "Garcon a la Pipe" (1905) sold for $104 million in 2004. (The painting itself cost $93 million, but the auctioneer, Sotheby's, was also paid a commission of $11 million.)
8 Picasso's early work "Garcon a la Pipe" (1905) sold for $104 million in 2004. (The painting itself cost $93 million, but the auctioneer, Sotheby's, was also paid a commission of $11 million.)
Andy Warhol's "Eight Elvises" (1963) was reportedly sold to a private buyer for $100 million in 2009.
9 Andy Warhol's "Eight Elvises" (1963) was reportedly sold to a private buyer for $100 million in 2009.
Jackson Pollock's abstract painting "No.5" (1948) is said to be the second-most expensive painting ever sold. It reportedly exchanged hands in 2006 for $140 million. 
10 Jackson Pollock's abstract painting "No.5" (1948) is said to be the second-most expensive painting ever sold. It reportedly exchanged hands in 2006 for $140 million. 
Dutch painter Willem de Kooning's "Woman III" (1963) is thought to be the third-most expensive painting ever sold. It was reportedly bought by American hedge fund manager Steve A. Cohen for more than $137 million in 2006.
11 Dutch painter Willem de Kooning's "Woman III" (1963) is thought to be the third-most expensive painting ever sold. It was reportedly bought by American hedge fund manager Steve A. Cohen for more than $137 million in 2006.
London's National Gallery and the National Galleries of Scotland in Edinburgh raised $72 million earlier this year to acquire Titian's "Diana and Callisto
12 London's National Gallery and the National Galleries of Scotland in Edinburgh raised $72 million earlier this year to acquire Titian's "Diana and Callisto
XS
SM
MD
LG