What amount are you prepared to spend on a captivating work of art? The impact of a breathtaking painting is undeniable, as it can stir up various emotions and serve as the focal point of a space. However, what is the cost? For certain collectors, there is no limit regarding how much they are willing to pay for exceptional art. Every year, both auction houses and private galleries witness record-breaking sales for works by both Old Masters such as Leonardo da Vinci, as well as 20th-century luminaries like Jackson Pollock and Pablo Picasso. This article will explore the top 5 most expensive paintings ever sold in art history.

Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci

In 2017, an anonymous buyer purchased Salvator Mundi for slightly over $450 million at a Christie's auction. This painting, which translates to "Savior of the World," not only holds the title of the most expensive painting in the world but also the most controversial. Several scholars have expressed doubt that the work was entirely created by Leonardo da Vinci, as the overall composition doesn't completely match da Vinci's style. In 2018, the Louvre conducted an analysis that suggested the painting may have evolved over time, with Leonardo possibly adding the hands and arms later.

Interchange by Willem de Kooning

Willem de Kooning, the Dutch-American artist known as the "artist's artist," played a significant role in shaping the abstract expressionist movement. One of his notable works, Interchange, marks a shift in his artistic approach from painting mostly women to more abstract urban landscapes. The painting's central focus is a pink center that depicts a woman reclining amidst a bustling background. In September 2015, Kenneth C. Griffin purchased the oil painting from the David Geffen Foundation.

The Card Players by Paul Cézanne

In the 1890s, Paul Cézanne produced a sequence of five paintings featuring labor workers engrossed in card games. This particular piece portrays two men deeply engaged in a game and deviates from Cézanne's earlier vivid and dramatic works. Although most paintings from the series are exhibited in museums worldwide, the royal family of Qatar acquired this specific artwork in 2011.

Nafea Faa Ipoipo? by Paul Gauguin

"When Will You Marry?" or Nafea Faa Ipoipo?, was one of Paul Gaugin's initial paintings after returning from his maiden voyage to Tahiti in 1891. The artwork highlights a local young woman adorned with a white flower in her hair, symbolizing her readiness for marriage in Tahitian customs, with her mother protectively seated beside her. Although initially sold for $300 million, a lawsuit in 2017 revealed that the actual selling price of the painting was $210 million.

Number 17A by Jackson Pollock

Jackson Pollock, a key figure in the abstract expressionist movement, gained recognition for his unique "drip" method of pouring paint onto canvases, frequently placed on the floor, to express emotions through movement. Number 17A, an early work by Pollock, showcases a spectrum of colors across fiberboard canvas in an abstract manner, utilizing this distinctive technique. The painting was purchased by billionaire Kenneth C. Griffin from the David Geffen Foundation in 2015.

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