The most expensive drawings include some of the most famous works of art of all time. These are works such as Leonardo da Vinci’s Portrait of Dr. Gachet, Pablo Picasso’s Interchanged, Paul Cezanne’s The Card Players, and Raphael’s Three Studies of Lucian Freud. These works of art are truly amazing, and they’re well worth their price in gold. But which drawings are the most expensive?
Leonardo da Vinci’s Portrait of Dr. Gachet
The Mona Lisa is one of the most valuable pieces of art in the world, and no one will ever be able to buy it again. Likewise, artworks by the masters of the past may not be worth what they were originally worth. In the case of Van Gogh, who only sold one painting during his lifetime, it was four hundred francs or about $2,000. However, his work was the subject of two private deals in 1989 and a Christie’s auction in 1990. This painting has been valued at $161.4 million when adjusted for inflation in 2019.
In 1889, Vincent Van Gogh went into an asylum and found a doctor named Dr. Gachet who was interested in working with artists. Although Van Gogh at first disapproved of the doctor, he later called him a “true friend.” Dr. Gachet is a patient that Van Gogh would eventually come to know and love. He painted two versions of the painting of the doctor. One version depicts him sitting at a table while the other portrays him leaning on an arm. Another version depicts him leaning his head against the table, with a head resting on his elbow.
The painting has a controversial history. Many have believed that the original is a replica of another painting by the master. However, in 2006, it was restored and attributed to the artist. It was on display at the National Gallery in London for five years, and then sold at auction. However, many historians doubt this painting is the original, and it has since been donated to the French National Gallery.
Another of Picasso’s most expensive paintings is his mistress painting from 1932. This small canvas exudes a relaxed sensuality. Picasso’s mistress painting, however, shows the dramatic development of his style. The painting sold for $155 million in 2013 to businessman Steve Cohen. However, the value of the painting has soared since.
Pablo Picasso’s Interchanged
During a recent auction, Pablo Picasso’s “Interchanged” sold for $115 million. The painting features a fully-nude girl with a red basket. It has drawn controversy over Picasso’s depiction of a prepubescent girl. Picasso’s work has also been accused of sexualizing women. Historians refer to this painting as Linda.
It was one of the most expensive paintings ever sold. A version of the painting sold for $68 million at a Christie’s auction in New York in 2015. The buyer of the painting was Harry Smith, chairman of art advisory firm Gurr Johns. This painting was one of only four Picassos to change hands before the auction. The Picasso estate had previously sold the painting to an unknown collector in 1973.
The artist’s lifelong passion for painting led him to make many masterpieces, including paintings that portray women in a rich and beautiful apartment. Picasso also had complicated relationships with his muses, and he created several versions of this painting. Picasso’s “Interchanged” is one of the most expensive drawings ever sold. It is one of the most expensive drawings in the world, and its price has risen considerably in recent years.
The artist created fifteen versions of ‘O’ during his lifetime. He completed this painting in 1955, and it sold for $179 million USD at the Christie’s auction in May 2015. Although the buyer remains anonymous, the piece is valued at an astonishing amount, and the painting’s purchase price is a testament to the artist’s fame and influence. So, who’s buying it?
Other expensive drawings include the “Femme Assise” by Jackson Pollock and his ‘Inside the Mirror’ by Andy Warhol. The paintings are both iconic and have reached the highest prices. The paintings are rare to find on the open market and a recent auction exceeded its estimate by over a million dollars. The buyer of this painting is anonymous, and the art piece remains on display at the Art Institute of Chicago.
The price of a piece of art is largely determined by its value. Historically, the value of a painting is determined by its perceived value. Paintings are generally valued at more than ten times their price. Pablo Picasso’s Interchanged sold for $300 million by the David Geffen Foundation in 2015.
Paul Cezanne’s The Card Players
A version of Paul Cezanne’s The Card Players that is on exhibit in Paris was stolen during a high-profile theft in August 1961. Burglars stole eight Cezanne works from a traveling exhibition in Aix-en-Provence, France, including this one. The thieves were eventually captured, and the paintings were recovered in Marseille a year later. A postage stamp was also issued to commemorate the thefts.
The series of five paintings by Cezanne depict two men playing cards. They are variations of 17th century genre paintings of drunk gamblers. The paintings are similar in theme and size, but are distinguished by their styles and number of players. Here, we will discuss each painting in more detail. A painting of this series can fetch up to $10 million. A limited number of paintings is available from Cezanne, and this painting is one of the most valuable in the world.
The royal family of Qatar rarely comments on art purchases, and art dealers involved in the Qatari purchase sign confidentiality agreements. However, multiple sources have confirmed that the Qatari royals have purchased The Card Players for the record price. For years, the painting was owned by Greek shipping magnate George Embiricos. He rarely lent it to third parties. However, he entertained a few offers to sell the painting. It is now part of the Qatari royal family’s private collection.
There are many theories about the creation of the painting. Some historians believe that Cezanne made dozens of sketches before he painted the final piece. Some others believe that the painting was copied from an earlier model. Then again, Cezanne’s sketch of the players may have been a study for the final painting. Regardless of its provenance, Cezanne’s The Card Players is one of the most expensive drawings in history.
The paintings of the “Card Players” are spread around the world. One painting of the group is in Philadelphia’s Barnes Foundation. The other is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Another one depicts four men and a boy, and one of the three paintings is in the Courtauld Institute of Art in London. One last piece is in the private collection of the Qatar royal family.
Raphael’s Three Studies of Lucian Freud
A 1969 oil on canvas triptych depicting Lucian Freud is now for sale at Christie’s for $142.4 million. This triptych was sold for more than double its estimate at auction without inflation, making it a highly sought-after piece. The painting is on acid-free 220 GSM paper and has a white border surrounding it. It has a price of about $2 million – much more than the original cost.
The subject of the painting, Lucian Michael Freud, was an acclaimed painter in his own right. He was a keen figurative artist and a prominent portraitist. His thick paintings are characterized by their humanizing qualities. Bacon was Freud’s closest friend, and the two men enjoyed a close but volatile relationship. This painting is a portrait of Freud and his friendship with Bacon, one of the most famous artists of the past century.
The painting is also notable for its ‘double portrait’ format. Freud, in a self-portrait from 1952, scowls in the mirror. But the work was still a record-seller – PS3,289,250 for the “self-portrait.” The price per square inch was even higher than the Raphael. The National Gallery’s version is the most expensive painting in the world, inch for inch.
