WHAT IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE WORK OF ART?

The most expensive work of art ever sold is the Salvator Mundi, a painting attributed to Leonardo da Vinci. It was sold for $450.3 million at Christie's auction house in New York City in 2017.

The Salvator Mundi is a portrait of Jesus Christ, painted in oil on a walnut panel. It is thought to have been painted around 1500, and is one of only a few surviving paintings by Leonardo da Vinci. The painting was rediscovered in 2005, and underwent extensive restoration before being put up for auction.

The sale of the Salvator Mundi sparked a debate about the authenticity of the painting. Some experts believe that it is a genuine Leonardo da Vinci, while others believe that it is a copy or a workshop painting. The debate is likely to continue for many years to come.

Here are the top 10 most expensive works of art ever sold:

1. Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci (2017) - $450.3 million

2. Les Femmes d'Alger (Version O) by Pablo Picasso (2015) - $179.4 million

3. When Will You Marry? by Paul Gauguin (2015) - $147.3 million

4. No. 5, 1948 by Jackson Pollock (2006) - $140 million

5. Portrait of Dr. Gachet by Vincent van Gogh (1990) - $82.5 million

6. Interchange by Willem de Kooning (1955) - $300 million

7. Le Rêve by Pablo Picasso (1932) - $155 million

8. Le Bassin aux Nymphéas by Claude Monet (2014) - $110.7 million

9. Femme assise (IV) by Amedeo Modigliani (1917) - $170.4 million

10. The Card Players by Paul Cézanne (2011) - $250 million

These are just a few of the most expensive works of art ever sold. The art market is constantly changing, and new records are being set all the time. It will be interesting to see which works of art will top the list in the years to come.

In addition to the top 10 most expensive works of art, there are a number of other notable artworks that have sold for high prices. These include:

The Scream by Edvard Munch (2012) - $119.9 million

Guernica by Pablo Picasso (1973) - $100 million

These artworks are all highly valued for their artistic merit, historical significance, or rarity. They are also a testament to the power of art to capture the imagination and inspire the world.

The high prices that these artworks have sold for reflect the growing demand for art from collectors and investors. As the art market continues to grow, it is likely that we will see even more expensive artworks being sold in the years to come.