Have you ever thought about how much the most expensive painting in the world costs? There are many paintings with prices over $1 million, but there are paintings that cost upwards of $100 million. It is difficult to truly appreciate these masterpieces of world painting - almost all the authors of the most expensive paintings ever sold have died and will no longer be able to create something like this. And because of this, the price of these paintings simply increases over time. So, we present to your attention the TOP 10 most expensive paintings in the world.
10 PHOTOS
1. No. 5, 1948, Jackson Pollock - $140,000,000.
No. 5, 1948 went for $140 million when it was sold by David Geffen to David Martinez in 2006. The 8-by-5-foot fiberglass piece embodies the unique painting technique used by Pollock, one of the greatest expressionist artists. This is a typical Pollock painting, not very accessible in perception, but which is the basis for the evolution of modern art. Pollock was famous for a unique painting technique in which, after placing a canvas on the floor, he would apply paint by causing it to drip from sticks, syringes and hard brushes.
2. Masterpiece, Roy Lichtenstein - $165,000,000. Roy Lichtenstein is one of the pioneers of pop art culture. His most famous work, Masterpiece (1962), has some classic pop art and comic book elements. The painting was part of Lichtenstein's first exhibition at the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles, which included other works such as "The Drowned Girl" and "Portrait of Madame Cézanne." Now, some critics have dismissed "Masterpiece" as just another washed-out, glamorous picture, while others believe it has a deeper meaning.
3. Reclining Nude, Amedeo Modigliani - $170,400,000. Reclining Nude, also known as Red Nude or Rellining Nude, is a oil painting 1917 by Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani. The painting is a seamless fusion of classical idealism and modern sensuality. The painting of a naked woman lying on a sofa appears erotically realistic, but has a surreal, almost sublime beauty that draws the viewer in. There is nothing rude or vulgar in this picture. Instead, she is perceived as a sensual, horny woman in her prime who is not afraid to give and demand physical pleasure.
4. Les Femmes d’Alger, Picasso - $179,400,000. In 2015, Les Femmes d'Alger Version O sold the painting for US$179.4 million, setting the world record for the most expensive painting ever sold at auction. This painting is the culmination of Picasso's series of 15 works, Women of Algiers. This work perfectly demonstrates Picasso's penchant for creating works that have a vintage feel while remaining completely fresh in approach.
5.No. 6, Mark Rothko - $186,000,000. Rothko's style is characterized by the use of large canvases and horizontal stripes of bright colors. Here Rothko uses a spartan palette with the darkest shades on top, symbolizing the depression that plagued him.
6. No. 17A, 1948, Jackson Pollock - $200,000,000. Abstract Expressionism was a popular art after World War II that emphasizes the subconscious and spontaneous creation. Jackson Pollock's work belonged to this school of painting - his dripping paint technique has its roots in the work of Andre Masson and Max Ernst. This piece of abstract work was created sometime in 1948 and was featured in a 1947 Life magazine article.
7. When will you get married? Paul Gauguin, $210,000,000. In 1892, a painting by Paul Gauguin became the most expensive painting in the world. His painting of two Tahitian girls broke a world record in February 2015 when it was bought by Qatar Museums from private Swiss collector Rudolf Stahelin for an astonishing $300 million.
8. The Card Players, Paul Cezanne, $250,000,000. The card players were purchased by the Qatari royal family from Greek shipping magnate George Embirikos for a whopping US$274 million.
9. Exchange, Willem de Kooning, $300,000,000. 10. Salvator Mundi, Leonardo da Vinci, $450,300,000. Salvator Mundi was supposedly written by Leonardo da Vinci (many critics believe otherwise). The painting shows Jesus Christ dressed in Renaissance clothing and giving a blessing while holding a crystal ball in his left hand. The glass ball in the hand symbolizes the crystalline spheres of heaven - Christ is shown as the savior of the world and the master of the cosmos.
“Every portrait painted with feeling is, in essence, a portrait of the artist, and not of the one who posed for him” Oscar Wilde
What does it take to be an artist? A simple imitation of a work cannot be considered art. Art is something that comes from within. The author's idea, passion, search, desires and sorrows, which are embodied on the artist's canvas. Throughout the history of mankind, hundreds of thousands, and perhaps millions of paintings have been painted. Some of them are truly masterpieces, known all over the world, even people who have nothing to do with art know them. Is it possible to identify the 25 most outstanding among such paintings? The task is very difficult, but we tried...
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25"The Persistence of Memory", Salvador Dali
Thanks to this painting, Dali became famous at a fairly young age, he was 28 years old. The painting has several other titles - “Soft Hours”, “Hardness of Memory”. This masterpiece has attracted the attention of many art critics. Basically, they were interested in the interpretation of the painting. It is said that the idea behind Dali's painting is related to Einstein's theory of relativity.
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24"Dance", Henri Matisse
Henri Matisse was not always an artist. He discovered his love for painting after receiving a law degree in Paris. He studied art so zealously that he became one of the greatest artists in the world. This painting has very little negative criticism from art critics. It reflects a combination of pagan rituals, dance and music. People dance in a trance. Three colors - green, blue and red, symbolize Earth, Sky and Humanity.
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23"The Kiss", Gustav Klimt
Gustav Klimt was often criticized for the nudity in his paintings. "The Kiss" was noticed by critics as it merged all forms of art. The painting could be a depiction of the artist himself and his lover, Emilia. Klimt painted this painting under the influence of Byzantine mosaics. The Byzantines used gold in their paintings. Likewise, Gustav Klimt mixed gold in his paints to create his own style of painting.
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22"Sleeping Gypsy", Henri Rousseau
No one except Rousseau himself could describe this picture better. Here is his description - “a nomadic gypsy who sings her songs to the accompaniment of a mandolin, sleeps on the ground from fatigue, her jug of drinking water lies nearby. A lion passing by came up to sniff her, but did not touch her. Everything is bathed in moonlight, a very poetic atmosphere.” It is noteworthy that Henri Rousseau is self-taught.
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21"The Last Judgment", Hieronymus Bosch
Without unnecessary words- the picture is simply magnificent. This triptych is the largest surviving painting by Bosch. The left wing shows the story of Adam and Eve. The central part is the "last judgment" on the part of Jesus - who should go to heaven and who should go to hell. The earth we see here is burning. The right wing depicts a disgusting image of hell.
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20
Everyone is familiar with Narcissus from Greek mythology - a man who was obsessed with his appearance. Dali wrote his own interpretation of Narcissus.
This is the story. The beautiful young man Narcissus easily broke the hearts of many girls. The gods intervened and, to punish him, showed him his reflection in the water. The narcissist fell in love with himself and eventually died because he was never able to embrace himself. Then the Gods regretted doing this to him and decided to immortalize him in the form of a narcissus flower.
On the left side of the picture is Narcissus looking at his reflection. After which he fell in love with himself. The right panel shows the events that unfolded after, including the resulting flower, the daffodil.
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19
The plot of the film is based on the biblical massacre of the infants in Bethlehem. After the birth of Christ became known from the wise men, King Herod ordered the killing of all small male children and infants in Bethlehem. In the picture, the massacre is at its peak, the last few children, who were taken from their mothers, await their merciless death. Also visible are the corpses of children, for whom everything is already behind them.
Thanks to the use of rich color range, Rubens' painting has become a world-famous masterpiece.
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18
Pollock's work is very different from other artists. He placed his canvas on the ground and moved around and around the canvas, dripping paint from above onto the canvas using sticks, brushes and syringes. Thanks to this unique technique, he was nicknamed “Sprinkler Jack” in artistic circles. For some time, this painting held the title of the most expensive painting in the world.
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17
Also known as "Dancing at Le Moulin de la Galette". This painting is considered one of Renoir's most joyful paintings. The idea of the film is to show viewers the fun side of Parisian life. Upon closer examination of the painting, you can see that Renoir placed several of his friends on the canvas. Because the painting appears slightly blurred, it was initially criticized by Renoir's contemporaries.
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16
The plot is taken from the Bible. The painting “The Last Supper” depicts Christ’s last supper before his arrest. He had just spoken to his apostles and told them that one of them would betray him. All the apostles are saddened and tell him that it is, of course, not them. It was this moment that Da Vinci beautifully depicted through his vivid depiction. The great Leonardo took four years to complete this painting.
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15
Monet's "Water Lilies" can be found everywhere. You've probably seen them on wallpaper, posters and art magazine covers. The fact is that Monet was obsessed with lilies. Before he started painting them, he grew countless numbers of these flowers. Monet built a bridge in Japanese style in his garden over a lily pond. He was so pleased with what he had achieved that he drew this plot seventeen times in one year.
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14
There is something sinister and mysterious in this picture; there is an aura of fear around it. Only such a master as Munch was able to depict fear on paper. Munch made four versions of The Scream in oil and pastel. According to the entries in Munch's diary, it is quite clear that he himself believed in death and spirits. In the painting “The Scream,” he depicted himself at the moment when one day, while walking with friends, he felt fear and excitement, which he wanted to paint.
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13
The painting, which is usually mentioned as a symbol of motherhood, was not supposed to become one. It is said that Whistler's model, who was supposed to sit for the painting, did not show up, and he decided to paint his mother instead. We can say that the sad life of the artist’s mother is depicted here. This mood is due to the dark colors that are used in this painting.
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12
Picasso met Dora Maar in Paris. They say that she was intellectually closer to Picasso than all his previous mistresses. Using Cubism, Picasso was able to convey movement in his work. It seems that Maar's face turns to the right, towards Picasso's face. The artist made the woman's presence almost real. Maybe he wanted to feel like she was there, always.
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11
Van Gogh wrote Starry Night while undergoing treatment, where he was only allowed to paint while his condition improved. Earlier in the same year, he cut off his left earlobe. Many considered the artist crazy. Of Van Gogh's entire collection of works, Starry Night is the most famous, perhaps due to the unusual spherical light around the stars.
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10
In this painting, Manet recreated Titian's Venus of Urbino. The artist had a bad reputation for depicting prostitutes. Although gentlemen at that time visited courtesans quite often, they did not think that anyone would take it into their heads to paint them. Back then, it was preferable for artists to paint pictures on historical, mythical or biblical themes. However, Manet, going against the criticism, showed the audience their contemporary.
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9
This painting is a historical canvas that depicts Napoleon's conquest of Spain.
Having received an order for paintings depicting the struggle of the people of Spain against Napoleon, the artist did not paint heroic and pathetic canvases. He chose the moment when the Spanish rebels were shot by French soldiers. Each of the Spaniards experiences this moment in their own way, some have already resigned themselves, but for others the main battle has just arrived. War, blood and death, that's what Goya actually depicted.
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8
The girl depicted is believed to be Vermeer's eldest daughter, Mary. Its features are present in many of his works, but they are difficult to compare. A book with the same title was written by Tracy Chevalier. But Tracy has a completely different version of who is depicted in this picture. She claims that she took this topic because there is very little information about Vermeer and his paintings, and this particular painting exudes a mysterious atmosphere. Later, a film was made based on her novel.
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7
The exact title of the painting is “Performance of the Rifle Company of Captain Frans Banning Cock and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburg.” The Rifle Society was a civilian militia that was called upon to defend the city. In addition to the militia, Rembrandt added several extra people to the composition. Considering that he bought an expensive house while painting this picture, it may well be true that he received a huge fee for The Night's Watch.
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6
Although the painting contains an image of Velázquez himself, it is not a self-portrait. The main character of the canvas is Infanta Margarita, daughter of King Philip IV. This depicts the moment when Velazquez, working on a portrait of the king and queen, is forced to stop and look at the Infanta Margarita, who has just entered the room with her retinue. The painting looks almost alive, arousing curiosity in the audience.
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5
This is the only painting by Bruegel that was painted in oil rather than tempera. There are still doubts about the authenticity of the painting, mainly for two reasons. Firstly, he did not paint in oils, and secondly, recent research has shown that under the layer of painting there is a schematic drawing of poor quality that does not belong to Bruegel.
The painting depicts the story of Icarus and the moment of his fall. According to myth, Icarus' feathers were attached with wax, and because Icarus rose very close to the sun, the wax melted and he fell into the water. This landscape inspired W. H. Auden to write his most famous poem on the same topic.
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4
The School of Athens is perhaps the most famous fresco by the Italian Renaissance artist, Raphael.
In this fresco at the School of Athens, all the great mathematicians, philosophers and scientists have gathered under one roof, sharing their theories and learning from each other. All the heroes lived in different time, but Raphael placed them all in one room. Some of the figures are Aristotle, Plato, Pythagoras and Ptolemy. A closer look reveals that this painting also contains a self-portrait of Raphael himself. Every artist would like to leave their mark, the only difference is the form. Although maybe he considered himself one of these great figures?
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3
Michelangelo never considered himself an artist, he always thought of himself more as a sculptor. But, he managed to create an amazing, exquisite fresco that the whole world is in awe of. This masterpiece is on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. Michelangelo was commissioned to paint several biblical stories, one of which was the creation of Adam. In this picture the sculptor in Michelangelo is clearly visible. Adam's human body is rendered with incredible precision using vibrant colors and precise muscle forms. So, we can agree with the author, after all, he is more of a sculptor.
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2"Mona Lisa", Leonardo da Vinci
Although it is the most studied painting, the Mona Lisa still remains the most mysterious. Leonardo said that he never stopped working on it. Only his death, as they say, completed work on the canvas. "Mona Lisa" is the first Italian portrait in which the model is depicted from the waist up. Mona Lisa's skin appears to glow due to the use of several layers of transparent oils. As a scientist, Leonardo da Vinci used all his knowledge to make the image of Mona Lisa realistic. As for who exactly is depicted in the painting, it still remains a mystery.
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1
The painting shows Venus, the goddess of love, floating on a shell in the wind, which is blown by Zephyr, the god of the west wind. She is met on the shore by Ora, the goddess of the seasons, who is ready to dress the newborn deity. The model for Venus is considered to be Simonetta Cattaneo de Vespucci. Simonetta Cattaneo died at 22, and Botticelli wished to be buried next to her. He was bound by unrequited love with her. This painting is the most exquisite work of art ever created.
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Conclusion
This was an article TOP 25 most famous paintings in the world. Thank you for your attention!
In the world of art, there are a huge number of works that shocked the whole world and, breaking the usual stereotypes, left a major mark on history. The creators of world-famous painting masterpieces posed a unique challenge to society, which changed its idea of beauty and pushed the established boundaries. Since there are many such revolutionary works in the history of art and it is impossible to cover them all, we decided to pay attention to the 10 most famous paintings by artists from different centuries.
Mona Lisa (La Gioconda) - Leonardo da Vinci
Mona Lisa
The painting “Mona Lisa” (“La Gioconda”) by Leonardo da Vinci is probably the most famous work of the genius. This painting is truly beautiful and priceless. It is located in the Louvre Museum. The masterpiece was created in 1514 - 1515. Until recently, it was assumed that the painting was painted earlier - in 1503.
The painting depicts the wife of a silk merchant from Florence, Francesco del Gioconda, Lisa Gherardini, so first the Italians and then the French began to call the painting “Gioconda”. The famous 16th-century historian Giorgio Vasari was delighted with the portrait and in his book “The Lives of Eminent Italian Architects, Sculptors and Artists” called it a shortened version of the word madonna (“my lady”) - Mona Lisa.
In the process of working on the painting, the artist, through careful composition, a soft range of tones and painting techniques, achieved that harmony, thanks to which we see the image as if through an invisible haze. This light coating covers small details, softens outlines and creates an invisible transition between shape and colors. Leonardo da Vinci gave our imagination a lot, so Gioconda never ceases to amaze art connoisseurs over the centuries, looking at us from the portrait as if alive.
The picture is very difficult to describe in words: the longer the viewer looks at it, the more it affects him. He is imbued with its magnetism and begins to feel that alluring charm that has not ceased to captivate people all over the world for centuries.
Black Square - Kazimir Malevich
Kazimir Malevich's painting "Black Suprematist Square", painted in 1915, still remains one of the most scandalous, famous and discussed works in Russian art. This masterpiece is part of the artist’s series of Suprematist works, which also included the paintings “Black Circle” and “Black Cross”. In this cycle, Malevich tried to explore basic color and compositional possibilities.
The canvas is presented in the form of a small canvas with a width and length of 79.5 centimeters. The main background of the work is white, in the center there is an image of a large black square. According to the artist, he worked on the canvas for several months.
It is worth noting that Malevich did not come to painting the painting right away. Work on the scenery of the opera “Victory over the Sun” was a harbinger of its appearance. In particular, the master decided to replace one of the decorations (the sun) with a black square. According to the artist’s idea, this technique would help him convey the idea of the triumph of human creativity over nature.
Critics reacted ambiguously to this work by Malevich. Some of them even argued that the painting is a modern alternative to icons, that the painting testifies to the search for some new religion, about the chaos of the world. According to the artist himself, “Black Square” is a kind of symbol of the pinnacle of art and at the same time its end.
It remains undeniable that the picture depicts a mysterious abyss that captivates and gives an endless flight of imagination.
Self-Portrait with Crown of Thorns and Hummingbird - Frida Kahlo
The famous painting by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, Self-Portrait with a Crown of Thorns and a Hummingbird, was painted in 1940. This self-portrait of a brilliant woman expresses the severe mental pain that she experienced after her divorce from her husband, the artist Diego Rivera. This pain is conveyed in the form of thorns that bind her neck. Subsequently, after breaking up with her husband, Frida Kahlo said: “There were two accidents in my life,” Frida said. - The first is a tram, the second is Diego. The second one is worse."
The Scream - Edvard Munch
The painting "The Scream" by Norwegian expressionist artist Edvard Munch was created between 1893 and 1910. The first thing that catches your eye is the figure of a screaming man depicted in the center of the canvas. On the face, contorted with horror, the viewer sees boundless despair on the verge of madness. The artist conveyed powerful human emotions using fairly simple means.
“The Scream” is a symbol of expressionism, a kind of prelude to the art of the 20th century. Munch's work is still one of the most extraordinary and mysterious in world painting today. Some experts even suggest that the plot of the work is a figment of the unhealthy imagination of a mentally ill person.
Viewers also see it differently: some personify it with a premonition of disaster, others believe that the author painted the picture, inspired by the image of a mummy. Everyone sees something different in her.
Girl with a Pearl Earring - Jan Vermeer
The famous work of the Dutch artist Jan Vermeer “Girl with a Pearl Earring” (“Girl in a Turban”) is often called the Dutch Mona Lisa. The painting was painted around 1665. Little is known about this painting. There are several versions of who is depicted in the painting, whether the author painted it to order and who the customer was. According to one of them, Vermeer depicted his daughter Mary on the canvas.
Definitely, this is an unusual work, with unique dynamics. The artist conveyed in the work the moment when the sitter turns her head and looks at the person she just noticed. The author drew the viewer's attention to the pearl earring in the girl's ear. The master managed to convey the connection between the young woman and the artist. Her figure lives a separate life, and her head looks in the other direction.
Self-portrait with a severed ear and pipe - Vincent Van Gogh
The Dutch and French artist Vincent van Gogh painted his famous “Self-Portrait with a Cut-off Ear and Pipe” in 1889 while in Arles. The artist suffered from mental illness due to his heightened perception of reality and mental imbalance.
The portrait was painted after Van Gogh, in a fit of madness, cut off his earlobe after a quarrel with Gauguin over creative differences. First, Van Gogh threw a glass at the artist’s head, then rushed at him with a razor. That same evening he mutilated himself.
Having examined the picture, we will notice that the background is divided into two equal parts: the lower zone is red, the upper zone is orange with yellow splashes. The author depicted himself with distorted facial features and a lost look.
The Last Supper - Salvador Dali
The famous master of surrealism Salvador Dali created his “Last Supper” in 1955. The painting is in the Washington National Gallery. The artist painted this work using complex techniques using photographic materials. The painting depicts a traditional plot conveyed from a futuristic point of view.
Dali depicted Jesus Christ and his followers gathered at one table. The work echoes and contrasts vividly with the famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci. However, on Dali’s canvas the setting and characters are different, depicted with minimalism and authenticity.
The picture conveys to the viewer a kind of moral message. The work is filled with light and lightness. From the windows depicted on it, we see an incredibly beautiful landscape with clear blue sky and silvery mountain ranges.
Olympia - Edouard Manet
Olympia - Edouard Manet
The painting “Olympia” was painted by the French impressionist Edouard Manet in 1863. It rightfully occupies a place of honor next to other masterpieces of world painting.
However, in 1865, a loud scandal occurred at the Paris Salon because of this work. The fact is that before Manet, naked women were depicted in paintings as a standard of spiritual beauty. And this work by Manet was recognized as both physically ugly and depraved. For moral reasons, artists were allowed to depict naked only heroines of ancient myths, historical or biblical figures. Whereas the impressionist broke this rule.
His Olympia was mistaken for a representative of the “most ancient profession” who had just received a bouquet from her lover. Society also did not accept the name of the painting, since corrupt women were called this name, and insulting ridicule rained down on the artist.
Dora Maar with a cat - Pablo Picasso
Dora Maar with a cat
One of the most expensive paintings in the world, “Dora Maar with a Cat” by Pablo Picasso, was painted by the artist in 1941. It depicts the artist's lover, Dora Maar, sitting on a chair with a small cat on her shoulder.
In almost all of Picasso’s paintings, Dora looks creepy, this is explained by the fact that they were painted during a difficult period of their relationship. Besides World War left its mark on the life and work of the Spanish master. The relationship between Dora Maar and Pablo Picasso was by no means romantic; rather, it was a union of two creative personalities.
In the work “Dora Maar with a cat,” the artist emphasized the sharpness of the nails through the image of a black cat.
One: number 31 - Jackson Pollock
In the late 1940s, the American artist Jackson Pollock invented a new technique in painting - he painted on large canvases, placing them on the floor. His paintings were created by splashing paint from his brushes; he did not touch them to the canvas.
When working on his paintings, he used sticks, scoops, knives and pouring paint or mixed paint with sand and broken glass.
