The most expensive works of art

Nowadays, collecting works of art is not a luxury, but a reliable investment. DW presents the most expensive paintings and sculptures in the world.

(Total 9 photos)

Source: www.dw.de

1. Giant puppy

The orange version of "Inflatable Puppy", created by American Jeff Koons, is the most expensive of the works of living artists. She is part of the famous series of giant steel sculptures created by Koons, imitating balloon toys. In November 2013, the orange "Inflatable Puppy" went under the hammer for $58.4 million.

2. Shark and the skull of Damien Hirst

Briton Damien Hirst is the richest living artist. However, he is a champion not only in terms of fees, but also in scandals caused by his work. The central themes of his works are life, death, consumption. In the photo - a shark alcoholized by Hurst. And his most expensive brainchild is the art object “For the Love of God”: a platinum model of a skull encrusted with 8,601 diamonds.

3. Capital art

For 119.9 million dollars, the painting "The Scream" by the Norwegian painter Edvard Munch was purchased at auction. Prices for the works of famous artists are constantly rising, and therefore are a reliable form of investment, emphasizes Karl Arnold (Karl Arnold), owner of the Arnold auction house in Frankfurt am Main.

4. The most expensive triptych of 2013

The triptych of the British painter Francis Bacon "Three sketches for a portrait of Lucian Freud" became the most expensive work of art ever sold at an art auction. He went under the hammer for $142.4 million.

5. 106.5 million for a naked sweetheart

Pablo Picasso painted Nude, Green Leaves and Bust in 1932 in just one day. Today, this work is one of the three most expensive lots of art auctions. The canvas, which depicts the beloved of the Spanish artist, went under the hammer for 106.5 million dollars.

6. From hand to hand

The famous painting by the French post-impressionist Paul Cezanne "The Card Players" was sold for $ 259 million, thus becoming the leader in "private" sales. True, this deal, which is not publicly advertised, has not been officially confirmed.

7. Top sellers in private auctions

One of the most expensive private auction lots is a painting by Austrian Gustav Klimt (Gustav Klimt) "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I", also known as "Golden Adele" and "Austrian Mona Lisa". She sold for $135 million. Even more was given for the painting by the Dutchman Willem de Kooning "Woman III" (137.5 million dollars) and the painting by the American Jackson Pollock "Number 5" (140 million dollars).

8. 37 million for the area in Milan

Until Jeff's Inflatable Puppy was sold at a record price, German Gerhard Richter was considered the most "expensive" living artist. Only for his painting “Cathedral Square. Milan paid $37 million. Richter himself considers such fabulous prices absurd. In his opinion, the relationship between the significance and value of works of art today does not exist.

9. Step into eternity

For 104.3 million dollars was sold in 2010 at auction the sculpture of the Swiss Alberto Giacometti "Walking Man I". It still remains one of the most expensive sculptures in the world.