[Update] The 20 Most Expensive Paintings In the World | more expensive – NATAVIGUIDES

Wow, take a look at these! The list starts on $110.5 million!!

So unless you’re a billionaire, hedge fund owner or some kind of royalty, everything on this list will be nothing more than a distant dream.

However, dreams can come true so here’s a list of the 20 most expensive paintings in the world.
 

The 20 Most Expensive Paintings In the World

The list of paintings and figures mentioned below have been compiled from various sources around the web, such as Work and Money & World Economic Forum.

These are the 20 most expensive paintings in the world:
 

20. Untitled – Jean-Michel Basquiat – $110.5 Million

In twentieth place, we have “Untitled”, by NYC graffiti artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.

His world famous depiction of a skull, using spray paint, sold for more than $110.5 million in 2017.

The sale made “Untitled” the highest price ever paid for a piece of art created after 1980.

Basquiat worked with artists like Andy Warhol and exhibited his work in some of the worlds most prestigious galleries.

Yusaku Maezawa, a Japanese billionaire, purchased “Untitled” for his collection. 

 

19. Reclining Nude With Blue Cushion – Amedeo Modigliani – $118 Million

Next up is the 1917 piece – Reclining Nude With Blue Cushion by Amedeo Modigliani.

It is one of several nude female portraits he’s known for creating. 

Modigliani is also known for his interesting character and behaviour, as he would often swap or trade his paintings for alcohol, food or drugs.

Reclining Nude With Blue Cushion was purchased by a Russian billionaire, Dmitry Rybolovlevn in 2012.

 

18. The Scream – Edvard Munch – $119.9 Million

As well as being one of the most expensive paintings in the word, “The Scream” is also one of the most famous and iconic.

There are four versions of The Scream, and this one is a lot less valuable than the 1893 oil painting rendition, which is currently on display in Oslo, Norway’s National Gallery.

“The Scream” was purchased by billionaire financier Leon Black in 2012.

 

17. Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I – Gustav Klimt – 5 Million

Next on the list is “The Lady in Gold”, painted by Austrian artist, Gustav Klimt.

The painting is of a Jewish banker’s wife set in 1907 and was purchased by Ronald Lauder, a Russian billionaire, in 2006.
Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer is currently being displayed in New York’s Neue Galerie.
 

16. Woman III – Willem de Kooning – $137.5 Million

Painted by Dutch expressionist Willem de Kooning in the early 1950s, Woman III sold for $137.5 million dollars in 2006.

It was previously housed in Tehran’s Museum of Contemporary Art, Iran. However, it was considered to be too offensive to the eye and taken down.

After a short stint with David Geffen, billionaire hedge fund manager Steven A. Cohen acquired it for his private collection.

 

15. No. 5, 1948 – Jackson Pollock – $140 Million

If you had $140 million to invest then the No. 5, 1948 by Jackson Pollock could have been just the investment you were looking for.

However, it sold to an unknown buyer in 2006 and interestingly, was actually not the original piece. It was sold just over a year later to the artist, Alfonso A. Ossorio for a mere $1,500.

After being damaged in Ossorios house, Pollock offered to repair it, but ended up re-painting the whole thing!

 

14. Three Studies of Lucian Freud – Francis Bacon – $142.4 Million

Francis Bacon painted this piece, of his friend and rival Lucian Freud, in 1969.

It became one of the most expensive and famous paintings ever, eventually catching the eye of Elaine Wynn, who bought it at auction in 2013.

The sale was at the time a record auction price however, it has since been surpassed by some of the other paintings on the list.

 

13. Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II – Gustav Klimt – $150 Million

Coming in at number thirteen on our list of most expensive paintings is another painting by Gustav Klimt.

Selling for a whopping $150 million in 2016, “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II” is the less famous of the two portraits he painted of Bloch-Bauer.

Unfortunately, both paintings were stolen by the Nazis during World War II. Luckily, however, they were retrieved and donated to Vienna’s Galerie Belvedere museum.

After the Bloch Bauer estate regained ownership, they sold it to Oprah Winfrey, who then sold it to an unknown Chinese buyer.

 

12. Le Rêve – Pablo Picasso – $155 Million

Le Rêve or “The Dream” as it translates, is one of Picasso’s most iconic paintings. The piece of art is of Marie-Thérèse Walter, who was Picasso’s mistress.

Casino tycoon Steve Wynn owned the artwork for 12 years and agreed to sell it to Steven A.Cohen. However, after a slip of an elbow from Mr Wynn, the painted was devalued by $55 million and the deal was put on hold until it was fully restored.

Cohen did eventually buy the painting but for a lot less than previously agreed.

 

11. Nu couché (sur le côté gauche) – Amedeo Modigliani – $157.2 Million

Modigliani’s 1917 painting of a naked woman on a red sofa became a record-breaking piece of art when it sold at Sotheby’s New York auction to an anonymous buyer in May 2018.

The artist also painted another very similar painting, “Nu couché,”, but this one is a lot bigger and captures the entire female figure from head to toe.

Chinese stock-market-billionaire Liu Yiqian bought the piece to display in his Shanghai museums.

 

10. Masterpiece – Roy Lichtenstein – $165 Million

The tenth most expensive painting in the world is Lichtenstein’s 1962 – “Masterpiece”.

The painting was inspired by comic book illustrations, and competes alongside some of his other famous pieces including “Whaam!” and “Look Mickey”.

In 2017 hedge-fund billionaire and avid art collector Steven A. Cohen, bought the piece for the hefty sum of $165 million!

 

9. Nu couché – Amedeo Modigliani – $170.4 Million

This is Modigliani’s most famous nude, made public in 1917 at his solo exhibition in Paris.

It depicts a naked woman on a red sofa, similar to the one we previously mentioned.

However, this version was purchased for an astronomical sum by Chinese billionaire Liu Yiqian.

It was reported that he purchased the piece in a single transaction using his American Express Card.

 

8. Les Femmes d’ Alger (“Version O”) – Pablo Picasso – $197.4 Million

Les Femmes d’ Alger (“Version O”) was part of the 1954-55 series from Picasso called “Les Femmes d’Alger” (“Women of Algiers”).

It was the last of 15 versions in the series, which was considered to be a tribute to his friend Henri Matisse.

Until Salvator Mundi broke the record, Les Femmes d’ Alger (“Version O”) was the most expensive painting sold at auction for two years.

The piece was purchased by Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, the former prime minister of Qatar.
 

7. Pendant portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit – Rembrandt – $180 Million

Painted to celebrate the wedding of Maerten and Oopjen in 1634, these two Rembrandt paintings have never been separated.

Art experts and historians agree that the paintings should always be displayed together and never apart.

They were purchased by the Louvre and the Rijksmuseum in 2015 as a joint venture, each paying 50%.

 

6. No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red) – Mark Rothko – $186 Million

It might not be to everyone’s taste, but No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red) has had a profound influence on contemporary art since its release.

The painting might be even more famous for being one of 36 pieces in the “Bouvier Affair”. This is an ongoing court battle between Russian tycoon Dmitry Rybolovlev and his art dealer, Yves Bouvier.

Dmitry claims that Yves defrauded him out of hundreds of millions of dollars, overcharging him for multiple paintings, which Yves strongly denies! 

 

5. Number 17A – Jackson Pollock – $200 Million

This 1948 painting by Jackson Pollock was the second piece of artwork bought in a $500 million deal by hedge fund manager Kenneth C Griffin in 2015.

“Number 17A” isn’t on public display at the moment, however, there are many exceptional Pollock collections on display in museums around the world, including the New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MOMA).

 

4. Nafea Faa Ipoipo – Paul Gauguin – $210 Million

French post-impressionist Paul Gauguin painted this piece when he was on his first trip to Tahiti.

It was one of many he painted of the native woman on the island and its title translates to “When Will You Marry?”.

The artwork has also previously been called the most expensive painting in the world, selling for $210 million in 2015 after two years of negotiations.

 

3. The Card Players – Paul Cézanne – $250 Million

The third most expensive painting in the world is “The Card Players”, by Paul Cézanna. 

It’s one of five paintings included in the French master’s 1890s’ series of the same name.

It was purchased by the Royal Family of Qatar in 2011, reportedly paying double the existing record for any artwork to be sold at auction.

 

2. Interchange – Willem de Kooning – $300 Million

Willem de Kooning’s famed 1955 piece was inspired by his surroundings whilst living in NYC and commanded the highest price ever paid in a private sale.

Hedge fund billionaire Kenneth C Griffin bought it alongside his Jackson Pollock Number 17A purchase, in a $500 million deal.

If you want to take a look at one of the most expensive paintings in the world, then the “Interchange” is currently displayed at the Art Institute of Chicago.

 

1. Salvator Mundi – Leonardo da Vinci – $450.3 Million

 

Leonardo da Vinci’s depiction of Jesus Christ holding a crystal orb is the most expensive painting in the world!

The painting was commissioned by King Louis XII of France in 1605, during the same period as the Mona Lisa.

However, somewhere between 1763 and 1900, it disappeared from all records until it was rediscovered in 2005, by a group of British art dealers.

Purchasing the painting for $10,000 they spent six years restoring and investigating its history before eventually announcing that it was a Da Vinci original.

The painting was exhibited in 2011 by the National Gallery of London and became known as the “Lost Leonardo”, as it was the first discovery of a Da Vinci since 1909.

The “Savior of the World” (Salvator Mundi) was purchased by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman on behalf of the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture & Tourism.
 

Summary

We hope you enjoyed our list of the 20 most expensive paintings in the world.

They’re certainly some incredible pieces of artwork, even the least expensive ones on the list. However, I think I’ll stick to cars and motorbikes for now!

Here’s a quick recap of the 20 most expensive paintings in the world:

1. Salvator Mundi – Leonardo da Vinci – $450.3 Million
2. Interchange – Willem de Kooning – $300 Million
3. The Card Players – Paul Cézanne – $250 Million
4. Nafea Faa Ipoipo – Paul Gauguin – $210 Million
5. Number 17A – Jackson Pollock – $200 Million
6. No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red) – Mark Rothko – $186 Million
7. Pendant portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit – Rembrandt – $180 Million
8. Les Femmes d’ Alger (“Version O”) – Pablo Picasso – $197.4 Million
9. Nu couché – Amedeo Modigliani – $170.4 Million
10. Masterpiece – Roy Lichtenstein – $165 Million
11. Nu couché (Sur le côté gauche) – Amedeo Modigliani – $157.2 Million
12. Le Rêve – Pablo Picasso – $155 Million
13. Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II – Gustav Klimt – $150 Million
14. Three Studies of Lucian Freud – Francis Bacon – $142.4 Million
15. No. 5, 1948 – Jackson Pollock – $140 Million
16. Woman III – Willem de Kooning – $137.5 Million
17. Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I – Gustav Klimt – $135 Million
18. The Scream – Edvard Munch – $119.9 Million
19. Reclining Nude With Blue Cushion – Amedeo Modigliani – $118 Million
20. Untitled – Jean-Michel Basquiat – $110.5 Million

What’re your favourite most expensive paintings? Leave a comment below.

To answer the question of why are laptops more expensive than desktops, a few basics need to be understood. That’s the exact purpose of this article.

Although both types of computers rely on semiconductors to work, the number of similarities start diminishing as you look closer at their internal construction.

The main reason why laptops are more expensive than desktops is in the development costs to create hardware that is compact enough and at the same time meeting an expected level of performance.

And it’s not just performance that is a big challenge. It is also keeping the system cool enough that stability is maintained under most common usage conditions.

Differences of each component that affect the price

Here is a basic list of the major components that make a difference in how much they cost with an explanation of why that may be.

If you are curious, I have written another article about various parts of a computer and their function for computers in general if you’d like to learn more.

The motherboard

To make a laptop as compact as possible, more components need to be integrated onto the motherboard in a smaller footprint compared with a standard-sized desktop motherboard.

With a smaller motherboard, more design challenges needs to be overcome. Here are a few examples:

1. Smaller component footprint: Components have to be selected that provide the best solution for their size.
2. Extra refinement on track layout: Because there are quite a few components that are interconnected with each other on a smaller motherboard, circuit pathways have to be designed that have very little clearances.
3. Layout: Lots of consideration has to be made for the component layout so that factors like shielding, performance, and heat aren’t an issue.

CPU

Laptop CPU

Central processing units used in laptops are termed as a mobile processor. They operate in a slightly different way when it comes to power consumption.

That is where some extra cost would go into it’s development. Special thought has to go into achieving adequate levels of performance while using the least amount of power possible.

Power management features are very important and add some extra cost in development to achieve an adequate outcome.

It isn’t very often anymore that you will see a CPU socket on a laptop motherboard. To save space, CPU’s are usually soldered directly to the motherboard using a BGA (Ball Grid Array).

Solder pads on the motherboard and on the processor are joined together using small balls of solder that are heated up and melted to connect the pads.

With this in mind, processors have to be designed to withstand certain temperatures to allow the soldering process to be successful.

Graphics processing

There are two main ways the graphics processor is implemented in a laptop.

1. Integrated Graphics: The graphics processor is integrated into the CPU. One semiconductor package performs both tasks.
2. Dedicated Graphics: A separate graphics processor is soldered onto the motherboard, delivering better performance for graphics-intensive operations like gaming.

With having a dedicated graphics processor on the motherboard, it demands extra development to integrate the extra semiconductor package on a small motherboard and to cool it.

This pushes costs up and that’s why you will pay more for a laptop with dedicated graphics.

RAM

RAM (random access memory) is one of the exceptions when it comes to the price. Laptops typically use SODIMM RAM as opposed to the DIMM memory used in desktops.

Although SODIMM modules are smaller than desktop RAM, it doesn’t seem to affect the price negatively. This is probably due to the amount of demand for memory around the world. Cloud storage and mobile phones are just two examples of this.

Cooling system

A laptop’s cooling system needs to be designed in such a way that it remains compact and maintains it’s efficiency for cooling. This is challenging and is one of the most important components for system stability.

Not only is there an extra cost in designing an efficient heat sink and fan assembly that is compact enough, but often they contain heat pipes that are sealed in a partial vacuum and contain an inner wick and some fluid.

This adds a layer of complexity to the heat sink and the materials, thus increasing the cost to manufacture it.

Drives

Modern laptops have changed to using an M.2 SSD as a primary drive. This is good, seeing an SSD doesn’t suffer from the shortcomings of mechanical drives and delivers outstanding levels of performance.

We talk more about SSD’s and if they’re worth it if you are interested to know more.

Laptop hard drives smaller and more compact (2.5 Inch vs 3.5 Inch for desktops). They also have a lower storage capacity, less performance, and are slightly more expensive than a desktop hard drive of the same size and comparative specifications.

Battery

This is a component that isn’t present in a desktop computer. The closes thing that could resemble one for a desktop machine, would be a UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply).

A UPS is basically a unit with a battery inside it that connects up separately from the mains power and keeps your computer running long enough to save all your work and shut it down safely.

For a laptop however, the battery can do more that just that. You can run the entire laptop with extra peripherals plugged into it for several hours at a time without plugging it into the power charger.

This is something that adds an additional cost to manufacture a laptop. Although it isn’t something extremely pricey, it still contributes to the end price.

A laptop needs to be designed in such a way to keep the battery safe from physical damage to a certain degree and as cool as possible.

So an extra bit of the laptop’s design is dedicated to do just that for the battery. There are other things to also consider when incorporating a battery into a product like a reasonable amount of amp hours so the laptop can run for a desirable length of time before being depleted.

Here are some extra tips if you are interested in keeping a laptop’s battery healthier for longer in an article I wrote about the subject.

Conclusion

And there you have it, all of the major individual components and why they cost more in a laptop.

So the next time you are looking at laptops in your favorite store, keep in mind all of the extra development and production costs when it comes to delivering all that performance in a small package.