Which World Famous Paintings Occupy the World’s “Most Sold for List”?

No paintings have come close to the price paid by a telephone bidder for Leonardo Da Vinci’s “Salvador Mundi” at Christies in New York. Composed in the 16th Century, it last changed hands in the 1950s, when it was bought for £45 as it was believed to be a copy.

Da Vinci’s painting went from £45 in the 1950’s to over £300 million recently

In just 19 minutes, the 26-inch tall painting referred to by the auction house as “The Last DaVinci” broke the record for the most expensive painting ever sold. Proceedings briefly dwindled around the $200 million mark before a renewed energy saw the bidding battle taking $2 million strides before the hammer came down on the equivalent of £342 million.

The depiction of Christ is over two and half times more expensive than the previous record-holder, Picasso’s “Women of Algiers” which sold for almost $180 million at auction in 2015.

  1. “Salvador Mundi” Leonardo DaVinci – $450.3m
  2. “Women of Algiers” Pablo Picasso – $179.4m
  3. “Reclining Nude” Amedeo Modigliani – $170.4m
  4. “The Woman in Gold” Gustav Klimt – $135m
  5. “Portrait of Dr. Gachet” Vincent Van Gogh – $149.7m (1990 equivalent of)
  6. “Three Studies of Lucian Freud” Francis Bacon – $142.4m
  7. “Dance at Moulin de la Galette” Pierre-Auguste Renoir – $141.7m
  8. “Boy with a Pipe” Pablo Picasso – $130.7m
  9. “The Scream” Edvard Munch – $119.9m
  10. “Nude, Green Leaves and Bust” Pablo Picasso – $106.5m

 

While you might not have paintings of broaching the hundreds of millions at home, it’s always worth checking that any pieces of art you do have are properly insured. Check your policy or give us a call on 0113 2500377 for expert insurance advice.