Many of the most expensive pieces of art have been sold behind closed doors -- making precise figures hard to come by -- but even the lowest estimates are eye-watering. <em>The Card Players</em>, painted by Paul Cézanne in 1892/3, was reportedly sold to the State of Qatar in April 2011 for between $250 - $300 million.
The most expensive pieces of art ever sold —
Many of the most expensive pieces of art have been sold behind closed doors -- making precise figures hard to come by -- but even the lowest estimates are eye-watering. The Card Players, painted by Paul Cézanne in 1892/3, was reportedly sold to the State of Qatar in April 2011 for between $250 - $300 million.
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<em>Woman III </em>is a painting by Dutch abstract expressionist artist Willem de Kooning . The New York Times reported that the painting sold for $137.5 million in November 2006 to billionaire Steven A. Cohen.
The most expensive pieces of art ever sold —
Woman III is a painting by Dutch abstract expressionist artist Willem de Kooning . The New York Times reported that the painting sold for $137.5 million in November 2006 to billionaire Steven A. Cohen.
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American hedge fund manager Steven A. Cohen also snapped up this 1932 Picasso painting <em>Le Reve</em> in March 2013 at a private sale. The piece, which he bought for an estimated $155 million, portrays Picasso's 22-year-old mistress Marie-Thérèse Walter.
The most expensive pieces of art ever sold —
American hedge fund manager Steven A. Cohen also snapped up this 1932 Picasso painting Le Reve in March 2013 at a private sale. The piece, which he bought for an estimated $155 million, portrays Picasso's 22-year-old mistress Marie-Thérèse Walter.
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This 1907 Gustav Klimt painting <em>Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I</em> sold for $135 million -- the highest sum ever paid for a painting at the time -- in June 2006 to billionaire Ronald Lauder, according to the New York Times. Adele was the wife of Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer; a wealthy industrialist who sponsored the arts and supported Gustav Klimt.
The most expensive pieces of art ever sold —
This 1907 Gustav Klimt painting Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I sold for $135 million -- the highest sum ever paid for a painting at the time -- in June 2006 to billionaire Ronald Lauder, according to the New York Times. Adele was the wife of Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer; a wealthy industrialist who sponsored the arts and supported Gustav Klimt.
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The oil-on-canvas triptych <em>Three Studies of Lucian Freud</em> painted by Francis Bacon in 1969, sold at auction for $142.4 million in November 2013. The buyer was Elaine Wynn, ex-wife of American business magnate Steve Wynn.
The most expensive pieces of art ever sold —
The oil-on-canvas triptych Three Studies of Lucian Freud painted by Francis Bacon in 1969, sold at auction for $142.4 million in November 2013. The buyer was Elaine Wynn, ex-wife of American business magnate Steve Wynn.
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Expressionist artist Edvard Munch created a series of paintings and pastels between 1893 and 1910 which he named <em>Der Schrei der Natur</em> (The Scream of Nature). Now popularly known as "The Scream," the works show a figure with an agonized expression against a landscape with a tumultuous orange sky. This piece, painted by Munch in 1895, was sold in May 2012 for $119.9 million at Sotheby's, New York.
The most expensive pieces of art ever sold —
Expressionist artist Edvard Munch created a series of paintings and pastels between 1893 and 1910 which he named Der Schrei der Natur (The Scream of Nature). Now popularly known as "The Scream," the works show a figure with an agonized expression against a landscape with a tumultuous orange sky. This piece, painted by Munch in 1895, was sold in May 2012 for $119.9 million at Sotheby's, New York.
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<em>Bal du moulin de la Galette</em> is an 1876 painting by French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir. It is often cited as one of Impressionism's most celebrated masterpieces and depicts a typical Sunday afternoon at Moulin de la Galette, in the district of Montmartre in Paris. The piece sold for $78.1 million in 1990 to honorary chairman of Daishowa Paper Manufacturing, Ryoei Saito at Sotheby's, New York.
The most expensive pieces of art ever sold —
Bal du moulin de la Galette is an 1876 painting by French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir. It is often cited as one of Impressionism's most celebrated masterpieces and depicts a typical Sunday afternoon at Moulin de la Galette, in the district of Montmartre in Paris. The piece sold for $78.1 million in 1990 to honorary chairman of Daishowa Paper Manufacturing, Ryoei Saito at Sotheby's, New York.
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Painted in 1984, this Francis Bacon triptych <em>Three Studies for a Portrait of John Edwards</em> is one of the most anticipated pieces up for auction at Christie's on May 13. It will be sold for an estimated $80 million according to Christie's.
The most expensive pieces of art ever sold —
Painted in 1984, this Francis Bacon triptych Three Studies for a Portrait of John Edwards is one of the most anticipated pieces up for auction at Christie's on May 13. It will be sold for an estimated $80 million according to Christie's.
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This Andy Warhol painting of Marylin Monroe is up for auction at the Post-War and Contemporary Evening sale at Christie's New York. It's called <em>White Marilyn</em> and was painted in 1962. The signed painting will sell for an estimated $12 - $18 million at the auction on May 13.
The most expensive pieces of art ever sold —
This Andy Warhol painting of Marylin Monroe is up for auction at the Post-War and Contemporary Evening sale at Christie's New York. It's called White Marilyn and was painted in 1962. The signed painting will sell for an estimated $12 - $18 million at the auction on May 13.
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This painting of ex-Beatle John Lennon is up for auction with a price tag of $2,500,000-$3,500,000 at the Post-War and Contemporary Evening sale at Christie's New York. <em>John Lennon</em> was painted between 1985/6 and is marked with the Estate of Andy Warhol stamp.
The most expensive pieces of art ever sold —
This painting of ex-Beatle John Lennon is up for auction with a price tag of $2,500,000-$3,500,000 at the Post-War and Contemporary Evening sale at Christie's New York. John Lennon was painted between 1985/6 and is marked with the Estate of Andy Warhol stamp.
Courtesy CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2014