#konstexperter

In recent years, several new records have been set and beaten at auctions for the most expensive painting (dyraste målningen) ever sold. Art experts (Konstexperter) usually predict high prices for old and modern works of art (moderna konstverk), but sometimes they cannot predict the sky-high amounts that collectors are willing to pay for their favorite masterpieces. These are the 10 most expensive works of art ever sold... so far.

'No 5, 1984', Jackson Pollock - 109 million euros

The first work of art (konstverk) is 'No 5, 1984', which is considered one of Pollock's best works. With its yellow and brown expressionist drops, it is an important work in the abstract expressionist movement. The work was sold for 109 million euros in 2006 and is said to have been bought by the Mexican financier David Martinez, something that the collector denies. The painting (målning) set a record for the most expensive painting (dyr målning) ever sold, a record that was not broken until 2011.

'Salvator Mundi', Leonardo Da Vinci - 382 million euros

In November 2017, no one could have imagined that Leonardo Da Vinci's Salvator Mundi 'would be sold for almost 382 million euros, almost three times as much as the experts predicted. The work, depicting Christ as the Savior of the world, is an important masterpiece as it is believed to be the last known privately-owned Da Vinci painting. However, it took quite a long time to determine this. The painting (målning) was very overpainted when it was bought in 2005 and was therefore assumed to be a copy. But after restoration, it turned out that the painting (målning) was a lost Da Vinci original. After a 19-minute bidding war, the painting was purchased (målning köptes) by the Abu Dhabi Institute of Culture and Tourism and will be displayed at the Louvre in Abu Dhabi.

'Interchange', Willem de Kooning - 266 million euros

When the painting 'Interchange' by Willem de Kooning was auctioned off for 266 million euros in 2015, it set the record for the most expensive painting ever sold (den dyraste målningen som sålts någonsin), a record that was not broken until 2 years later. Kenneth Griffin, who also bought 'Number 17A' from Jackson Pollock, included 'Interchange' in the same purchase. The reason he paid so much for the work is that it represents the important transition period to abstract expressionism in De Kooning's art.

'Number 17A', Jackson Pollock - 177 million euros

This beautifully colored drop painting is a perfect example of Pollock's abstract expressionism. The work was bought by hedge fund billionaire Kenneth Griffin in September 2015, along with the next painting (målning) on our list. Neither can be seen today at the Art Institute of Chicago.

'The Card Players', Paul Cézanne - 173 million euros

This painting (målning), depicting two working-class men playing cards, is considered a cornerstone of Cézanne's last year as an artist. This series consists of five paintings (målning) where the other four are part of world-class collections, but this was the only painting available to private buyers. This masterpiece was purchased by the Royal Family of Qatar in 2011 for € 173 million and is part of their private collection of paintings.

'When Will You Marry?’ Paul Gauguin - 162 million euros

'When Will You Marry?' painted in 1892 and depicts two Tahitian women in Gauguin's famous color scheme. The work was sold for 162 million euros to a collector in Qatar. Given that Gauguin is one of the founders of modernism, it is no wonder that the work was sold for such a high amount.

'Les Femmes d'Alger' ('Version O') ', Pablo Picasso - 161 million euros

Picasso's works are always popular with art dealers. 'Les Femmes D Alger is a series of 15 paintings that have been sold separately over the years. 'Version O' was the final painting (slutmålning) in the series and was long considered the most important privately owned Picasso painting. It is no surprise that it was sold for 161 million euros when it appeared on the market in 2015. It was sold to Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, Qatar's former Prime Minister.

'Pendant portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit', Rembrandt- 160 million euros

These two wedding portraits were purchased by two collaborating museums. In 2015, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the Louvre in Paris together raised 160 million euros for the paintings (målningar), which was a record amount for Rembrandt's works. The paintings are real masterpieces and therefore a good complement to the collections of the two museums. The two museums take turns exhibiting these paintings (målningar) together with their other works of art (konstverk).

'Nu couché', Amedeo Modigliani - 158 million euros

The artwork (konstverk) 'Nu couché', or 'Reclining Nude', was painted by Modigliani between 1917 and 1918. It is one of his most famous works and was therefore very popular when it appeared on the market in 2015. The work was sold for 158 million euros to the billionaire and investor Lui Yiqian.

'No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red) ', Mark Rothko - 140 million euros

With its large colored planes in hazy shades, 'No. 6 'a typical Rothko work. The painting was sold (målning såldes) for 140 million euros to the Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev in 2014. For more than 10 years, several of Rothko's works have reached high sales amounts at auction.