From the Mona Lisa to the American Gothic, these famous paintings don’t just grace museum walls; they offer a glimpse into the past and define entire generations. Although most of these masterpieces are centuries old, they continue to fascinate art buffs and collectors alike, with each piece telling a captivating story. Whether they’re on display for the whole world to see or hidden behind closed doors, these paintings prove that art has the power to create and sometimes, even change history. In this collection, we’ve gathered 40 of the world’s most famous and expensive paintings, along with the legendary artists behind them.
#21 Portrait Of Adele Bloch-Bauer I (1907): Gustav Klimt
As the first of two depictions of Adele Bloch-Bauer and the most fully representative work of Gustav Klimt's golden phase, this painting is valued at over $223 million today. Sold in 2006 by Maria Altmann, Bloch-Bauer’s niece, at the record price of $135 million, the artwork has been on permanent display at the Neue Galerie in New York ever since.
Report
16points
#22 Portrait Of Dr. Gachet (1890): Vincent Van Gogh
At first glance, this may seem like a regular portrait. But once you learn that the man depicted in the painting was Vincent van Gogh’s physician, who cared for him in his final years, its true melancholy becomes clear. In 1990, the artwork sold for $83 million (around $180 million today) at auction, making it the highest price for a work of art at the time of sale.
Report
16points
#23 The Scream (Patsel Version, 1893): Edvard Munch
Recognized as one of the earliest examples of the expressionism movement, this haunting painting is among the most iconic images in art. The pioneering artwork sold for an unbelievable $119.9 million ( around $170 million today) at an auction in 2012, making it one of the most expensive artworks ever sold at the time.
Report
15points
#24 Mont Sainte-Victoire (1890s): Paul Cezanne
Due to its revolutionary representation of space and form, the artwork pictured here greatly influenced future art movements such as Cubism. One of several versions, this particular painting was owned by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and has been praised for its vivid color palette and structured composition. In 2022, it sold for $137.8 million, which is a massive $180 million today.
Report
15points
#25 Spring (1881): Édouard Manet
This painting is best known as Édouard Manet’s final major Paris Salon success and is also one of the first works of art to be reproduced in color. In a 2014 auction, the portrait sold for a whopping $65 million (about $85 million today), a record price for an artwork by this artist at the time.
Report
15points
#26 The Sleeping Gypsy (1897): Henri Rousseau
As a permanent part of the collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, The Sleeping Gypsy isn’t on the market; however, if it were ever for sale at auction, it would probably fetch over $100 million. Remarkably, despite being painted by a naive artist and also being rejected when first released, it has now become one of the most famous images of the modern era.
Report
14points
#27 When Will You Marry? (1892): Paul Gauguin
Much like Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin never received much acclaim or recognition during his lifetime. Despite this, several of his paintings have fetched millions of dollars at auction. When Will You Marry is one such artwork, as it was sold for an eye-watering $210 million in 2015, the highest price ever paid at the time.
Report
14points
#28 Salvator Mundi (1500s): Leonardo Da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci is undeniably one of the most celebrated artists in history, so it isn’t surprising that his 16th-century painting, Salvator Mundi, fetched a jaw-dropping $450 million at auction in 2017. Equivalent to around $594 million today, this hefty price made the artwork the most expensive painting ever sold at public auction.
Report
14points
#29 Pendant Portraits Of Maerten Soolmans And Oopjen Coppit (1634): Rembrandt
Painted by Rembrandt to mark Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit’s union, these pendant portraits are regarded as his most captivating and rare artworks. Famous for their full-length scale and for always being exhibited together, the portraits were jointly purchased by the Louvre and the Rijksmuseum in 2015 for €160 million(around $244 million today).
13points
#30 Portrait Of Adele Bloch-Bauer II (1912): Gustav Klimt
While not as famous as the first painting of her completed in 1907, this second portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer, wife of wealthy industrialist Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer, is valued at over $195 million today. Initially sold to Oprah Winfrey for $87.9 million at an auction in 2006, the painting was later sold to an anonymous Chinese buyer for almost double just 10 years later.
Report
13points
#31 Garçon A La Pipe (1905): Pablo Picasso
Painted during Picasso’s Blue Period, Garçon à la Pipe is famous for its haunting beauty and jaw-dropping sale price. In 2004, the mysterious masterpiece sold for $104 million (about $177 million today) to an anonymous bidder, which at the time, set a new record for the most expensive painting ever sold at auction.
Report
13points
#32 Portrait Of Alfonso D'avalos, Marchese Del Vasto, In Armor With A Page (1533): Titian
This 16th-century artwork marked the beginning of the formal standing portrait style in Western art. In 1990, the Portrait of Alfonso D'avalos was sold to the Getty Museum for $70 million (around $168 million today), reflecting the portrait’s status as an extremely valuable and significant masterpiece by Titian.
13points
#33 Portrait Of A Young Man Holding A Roundel (1480): Sandro Botticelli
Although this artwork was painted over 500 years ago, Sandro Botticelli somehow made it feel modern and alive with his new approach to portrait art. In 2021, the Old Master painting sold for $92.2 million (around $115 million today), setting a new auction record for the most expensive Renaissance work at the time.
Report
13points
#34 Eagle On Pine Tree (1946): Qi Baishi
Qi Baishi is a renowned Chinese artist known for his influence and international appeal. His modern Chinese painting, Eagle on Pine Tree, fetched a massive $65 million at auction in Beijing in 2017, making it the second-most expensive artwork in China. Remarkably, Qi’s paintings continue to sell at very high prices, even rivaling those of Warhol and Picasso.
13points
#35 American Gothic (1930): Grant Wood
It may come as a surprise that Grant Wood initially only received a bronze medal and a $300 cash prize for an artwork that would become America’s most famous 20th-century painting. While this piece may be a priceless work of art, it’s quite reasonable to assume that it would sell for millions of dollars, judging from the eye-watering amounts Wood’s other works, such as Spring Plowing, have sold for.
Report
12points
#36 Portrait Of Joseph Roulin (1889): Vincent Van Gogh
This portrait is one of many artworks Vincent van Gogh produced during his time at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in an effort to develop his technique by painting the people who influenced him most. In 1989, this version sold for $58 million (around $135 million today) and is currently housed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Report
12points
#37 At The Lapin Agile (1905): Pablo Picasso
Marking a key turning point in his career, Picasso painted this self-portrait during his Rose Period when he underwent an artistic transformation. Now part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, At The Lapin Agile sold at auction in 1989 for $40.7 million, which is equivalent to $100–110 million today.
Report
11points
#38 Whistler's Mother (1871): James McNeill Whistler
The original "Whistler's Mother" painting is so iconic that it’s often called the Victorian Mona Lisa, so it probably won’t come as a surprise that it has been valued at over $40 million. Currently owned by the French state and displayed at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris since 1891, this piece is widely recognized as a symbol of motherhood and is considered priceless.
Report
10points
#39 Portrait Of A Halberdier (1529–1530): Pontormo
With this 16th-century artwork and a few others, Pontormo pioneered Mannerist portraiture. Due to its elegance and aristocratic reserve, the Portrait of a Halberdier has become one of his most famous paintings. When it was purchased by the Getty Museum in 1989, it fetched a massive $35.2 million (around $91.8 million today).
8points
#40 Suprematist Composition (1916): Kazimir Malevich
Considered one of Kazimir Malevich’s finest masterpieces, Suprematist Composition sold for a record-breaking $85.8 million (about $110 million today) at an auction in 2018. At the time of its sale, the artwork was part of a significant private collection and became the most expensive painting ever sold in Russian art history.
Report
5points