The 10 Most Expensive Pieces of Art sold at Auction

Ever wondered what the top 10 most expensive paintings ever sold at auction were?

Have you ever wondered how much some paintings actually get sold for at auction?  Million and millions of pounds are spent year on year by the wealthy looking for a sought out piece of artwork. So what is the most expensive piece of art?

1. Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I by Gustav Klimt

                                          $135,000,000

Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I by Gustav Klimt (1907)

This painting was sold to Ronald Lauder for his Neue Galere in New York City for $135 million in June 2006 at Christie’s, New York. The portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer, the wife of a Jewish sugar industrialist is considered one of the artist’s masterpieces.  Did you know that Adele Bloch-Bauer became the only model who was painted twice by Klimt  see the other at the Klimt online gallery.

2. Garçon à la Pipe by Pablo Picasso

           ($104,100,000)

Garçon à la Pipe (Boy with a Pipe) is a painting by Pablo Picasso, painted in 1905 during Picasso’s famous Rose Period, a period in which Picasso preferred cheerful orange and pink colours.  On May 5, 2004 it sold for $104.1 million at Sotheby’s auction house in New York, after having been given a pre-sale estimate of $70 million by the auction house. The record price was a bit of a surprise since the painting is not made in the Cubist style that Picasso is so renowned for. Many art critics have stated that the painting’s high sale price has much more to do with the artist’s name than with the merit or historical importance of the painting.

3.Dora Maar au Chat by Pablo Picasso

                     ($95,200,000)

Dora Maar au Chat (Dora Maar with Cat) is a 1941 painting by Pablo Picasso. It depicts Dora Maar, the painter’s mistress, seated on a chair with a small cat perched on her shoulders. The work is painted in Picasso’s well-known cubist style. It was sold in an auction of impressionist works held at Sotheby’s on May 3, 2006 in New York to an anonymous bidder, whose final bid was $95.2 million, well exceeding the pre-auction $50 million estimates.

4. Portrait of Dr. Gachet by Vincent van Gogh

                                   ($82,500,000)

This painting was sold to Japanese businessman Ryoei Sai for $82.5 million on May 15, 1990 at Christie’s, New York.  Ryoei Saito shocked the world when he announced that he wanted the van Gogh painting to be cremated with him at his death. Later he explained he was using a figure of speech: threatening to torch the oils was just an expression of intense affection for the masterpiece.  Vincent van Gogh actually painted two versions of Dr Gachet’s portrait with a slightly different color scheme. The other version is located at the Musée d’ Orsay in Paris.

5. Bal Au Moulin de la Galette by Pierre-Auguste Renoir

                                     ($78,000,000)

 Bal au Moulin de la Galette, Montmartre is an 1876 painting by French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir. There are two versions of this painting with the same name: the larger one is located at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, while the smaller version was sold on May 17, 1990 for $78 million at Sotheby’s in New York to Ryoei Saito, who bought it together with the Portrait of Dr Gachet.  Bal au Moulin de la Galette was also in danger to be cremated with Saito together with the van Gogh’s painting.

6. Massacre of the Innocents by Peter Paul Rubens

                                 ($76,700,000)

This painting by Peter Paul Rubens, painted in 1611, is the oldest painting in this list. It was sold to Kenneth Thomson, 2nd Baron Thomson of Fleet for
£49.5 million ($76.7 million) on July 10, 2002 at Sotheby’s auction.

7. Portrait de l’Artiste sans Barbe by Vincent van Gogh

                                  ($71, 500,000)

Portrait de l’artiste sans barbe (“Self-portrait without beard”) s one of many self-portraits by the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, that he painted in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France in September 1889. The painting is an oil on canvas and is 40 cm x 31 cm (16″ x 13″).Van Gogh painted this just after he had shaved himself, making this an uncommon painting since his other self-portraits show him with a beard. It becomes one of the most expensive paintings of all time when it was

sold for $71.5 million on November 19, 1998 at Christie’s, New York.

8. Rideau, Cruchon et Compotier by Paul Cézanne

                                            ($60,500,000)

Rideau, Cruchon et Compotier painting by Paul Cézanne was painted in 1893-1894. Cézanne was famous for drawing still lifes such as this, which expressed deep feelings though still based itself upon reality.  This painting was sold for $60.5 million at Sotheby’s New York on May 10, 1999 to “The Whitneys”, one of America’s wealthiest families.

9.Femme aux Bras Croisés by Pablo Picasso

                      ($55,000,000)

Painted in 1901, Femme aux Bras Croises was part of Picasso’s famous Blue Period, a dark, sad time in the artist’s life. The beautiful & various tones of blue are typical. The painting depicts a woman with her arms crossed staring at the endless nothing.  Femme aux Bras Croisés was sold for $55,000,000November 8, 2000, at Christie’s Rockefeller in New York City.

10. Irises by Vincent Van Gogh

                        ($53,900,000)

Irises is a painting by the Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh, painted while he was at the asylum at Saint Paul-de-Mausole in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France in the last year before his death in 1890.

In 1987, it became the most expensive painting ever sold when it was sold for AUS $54,000,000 to Alan Bond, but he did not have enough money to pay for it and it had to be re-sold. It is now owned by the Getty Museum in Los Angeles.

Have a question?

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Fabulous Masterpieces is the Premier UK Art Reproduction company. Curious to learn more about us? Then please visit the About Fabulous Masterpieces page. 

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Art Reproduction Examples and A Special 40% Off!

Hi Everyone,

I thought I’d show you some recent examples of a new art reproduction artist that we’re just put onto our books. Everyone meet Esther and her paintings.

This is Esther’s art reproduction of a Caravaggio painting alongside the original for you to compare and contrast. Caravaggio’s painting is entitled Saint Jerome and was thought to have been painted in 1605-6. It is now located in Galleria Borghese in Rome. To persuade you to commission a painting by Esther, she is offering you to paint you a reproduction oil painting  at 40% off the normal prices on the Fabulous Masterpieces website! A blinding deal. If you want to take advantage of this introductory offer from Esther, simply contact us with the name and title of the painting you’re after and mention that you would like Esther to paint it for you.

The Saint Jerome replica painting is on the top, original on the bottom. Obviously the Fab Masterpieces watermark is not on the actual oil painting. Receiving 40% off this painting or any other painting you love with Esther represents great value for money!

 Second Example

Esther’s reproduction of a Klimt oil painting. Her art reproduction is on top, the original below.

Esther's replica of a Klimt painting alongside the original for you to compare it to. Again our watermark will not be painted onto your actual painting.

Third Example

Gustave Caillebotte’s Oarsmen

Esther's reproduction oil painting of Gustave Caillebotte's Oarsmen. Her art reproduction is on top, the original below. Again the actual watermark will not be painted onto your painting.

Fourth Example

Esther's reproduction oil painting is on top, the original below. Again the actual watermark will not be painted onto your painting.

Special 40% off deal!

Do you like what you see? If you would like to commission a fine art reproduction of your favourite painting with Esther and receive a staggering 40% off then please contact us or email Tim directly on tim@fabulousmasterpieces.co.uk. Please remember to ask for Esther when contacting us.

Have a question?

We’d love to hear from you! If you would like to add something,  or ask a question concerning our art reproductions please leave a comment.

Bye for now x

Fabulous Masterpieces is the Premier UK Art Reproduction company. Curious to learn more about us? Then please visit the About Fabulous Masterpieces page. 

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George Bellows’ Dock Builders to fetch $3 Million

George Bellows' Dock Builders

What a beautiful painting! Art collector, Edward Evans is selling two notable pieces of art this May 19th, 2011 at Sotheby’s New York. This fabulous painting, shown above by George Bellows (1882 -1925) who according to the Columbus Museum of Art was “the most acclaimed American artist of his generation”

Dock Builders, painted in 1916 focuses on Maine’s seamen and is estimated to fetch between $2 – 3 Million.  The other notable artwork up for auction is Childe Hassam’s Quai St. Michel, which is also expected to sell in the $2.5 -3.5 Million region.

Childe Hassam's, The Quai St Michel estimated to fetch between $2.5 - $3.5 Million Dollars

Hassam ( 1859 – 1935) a prominent American Impressionist artist depicts an elegant lady browsing Paris’ famed bookinisties.

Would you like a quote for a Hassam or Bellows oil painting?

If you would like a quote for a  Hassam or Bellows reproduction oil painting such as Dock Builders or The Quai St Michel, please contact us. As with all our commissions, paintings are strictly commissioned-to-order, meaning you can choose to have your oil replica painted to the precise dimensions that you require. All paintings are exquisitely hand-painted with premium Winsor & Newton oils onto high-grade duck cotton canvases.

Have a question?

We’d love to hear from you! If you would like to add something,  or ask a question concerning our art reproductions please leave a comment.

Bye for now x

Fabulous Masterpieces is the Premier UK Art Reproduction company. Curious to learn more about us? Then please visit the About Fabulous Masterpieces page. 

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Schiele’s Hauser mit Bunter Wasche to fetch £30 Million

Sotheby’s will be selling Egon Schiele’s Hauser mit Bunter Wasche (Vorstadt II) on June 22nd, 2011 in London, where it is estimated to fetch £30 Million!  Hauser mit Bunter Wasche (translated as Houses with Colourful Laundry, “Suburb” II) was painted at the height of Schiele’s career in 1914. He died just 4 years later at the age of only 28.

It’s not just the price tag or the mastery of this impressive cityscape that makes this painting newsworthy but rather once this painting is sold, it will finally settle an ongoing dispute over art stolen by the Nazis. The Leopold Museum, in Vienna, is selling Hauser mit Bunter Wasche in order to pay for a $19 million ( £11.52 million) settlement to the heirs of the late Jewish collector and dealer Lea Bondi Jaray. The settlement, which was reached last year, allows the museum to keep the disputed Portrait of Wally, a favourite of the museum.

Sotheby’s, Helena Newman, Chairwoman of Impressionist & Modern Art,said: “We are thrilled to be offering this masterpiece of 20th-century art in our June sale. Its richness of colouration achieves a transcendental intensity that epitomises Schiele’s unique contribution to the development of 20th-century art. The painting is unquestionably one of the greatest Schiele oils ever to come to the market…”

Would you like a quote for a Egon Schiele oil painting?

If you would like a quote for a Schiele reproduction oil painting such as Hauser mit Bunter Wasche , please contact us. As with all our commissions, our Schiele paintings are strictly commissioned-to-order, meaning you can choose to have your oil replica painted to the precise dimensions that you require. All paintings are exquisitely hand-painted with premium Winsor & Newton oils onto high-grade duck cotton canvases.

Alternatively, why not visit the Schiele online gallery?! You’ll be able to commission a fine art reproduction of any of Schiele’s great masterpieces straight off the website.

Have a question?

We’d love to hear from you! If you would like to add something,  or ask a question concerning our art reproductions please leave a comment.

Bye for now x

Fabulous Masterpieces is the Premier UK Art Reproduction company. Curious to learn more about us? Then please visit the About Fabulous Masterpieces page. 

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Jan Steen’s A School Class

Jan Steen's, A School Class with a Sleeping Schoolmaster

What a great representation of a school classroom! Jan Steen’s (1626 – 1679) A School Class with a Sleeping Schoolmaster is the highlight of Sotheby’s Old Master painting sale in Amsterdam on May 10th, 2011. Painted in 1672, Steen humorously depicts a class-room scene, where everything is in disarray. The whole painting is taken up with children getting up to mischief by taking full advantage of the sleeping headmaster. What makes this a great painting in my view, is that even in this day and age it can still captivate a 21st century audience just as no doubt it did with viewers in the 17th century.

Jan Steen’s A School Class with a Sleeping Schoolmaster is estimated to fetch between 300,000 – 400,000 Euros on Tuesday, 10th May, 2011 at Sotheby’s Amsterdam.

Have a question?

We’d love to hear from you! If you would like to add something,  or ask a question concerning our art reproductions please leave a comment.

Bye for now x

Fabulous Masterpieces is the Premier UK Art Reproduction company. Curious to learn more about us? Then please visit the About Fabulous Masterpieces page. 

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How to choose the perfect photo for your oil portrait

4 Quick Tips on How to Choose the Perfect Photo to Base Your Oil Painting on.

    

1. Are your photos high res?

I’ve found that the best oil portraits come from high-resolution photographs. Anything over 1 MB is excellent. It just means that when your artist studies your photograph, he’ll be able to see all the small details that he needs in order to paint you an exquisite oil portrait. Lesser quality photos are still ok to work from, we’ve hand-painted oil paintings based on photos taken from mobile phones but the higher quality and clearer the image the better.

2. How sharp is your photo?

Your artist can only paint what he sees. Therefore your photo needs to clearly show the artist the colours and details you want to have painted into your portrait. The more in focus your photo is, (as opposed to a blurry photo) the better your oil portrait will be.  Sharpness of photo is actually a key factor in what differentiates a good oil portrait from a great oil portrait.

3. Lighting

Try and avoid photos that show your subjects in strong sunlight or dark shadows as it doesn’t come across well in an oil painting.  Having subjects squint if they are looking directly in the sun or are covered by shadows so you can barely see their faces is again not ideal.

4. Background

The great news is, your artist can change and alter the background of your portrait to however you want it. However, if you want the artist to copy the background as seen in your photo, it helps if your ideal background shows slight variations in colour and tones as this will give your oil portrait greater colour weight. Remember though, if the background in your photograph is very colourful and busy it will probably detract from the main subjects. Let us know when placing an order if you have any concerns about the background of your photo or if you would like any advice or alterations to be made.

Have a question?

We’d love to hear from you! If you would like to add something,  or ask a question concerning our oil portraits please leave a comment.

Bye for now x

Fabulous Masterpieces is the Premier UK Portrait Company. Curious to learn more about us? Then please visit the About Fabulous Masterpieces page. 

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Wedding Oil Portraits

15% off Bespoke Wedding Portraits

To celebrate The Royal Wedding, we’re offering a 15% discount off all wedding portraits commissioned by Monday, 2nd May 2011. All portraits are based on your favourite wedding photo and will be exquisitely hand-painted by one of our top portrait artists.

Of all occasions, weddings are the events that most need to be immortalised in oils. Our portraits allow emotions, personalities and sentiments to shine through – creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Beautiful Oil Portrait by Fabulous Masterpieces

So much time, thought, energy and effort goes into planning the big day that a skilfully hand-painted oil painting of a treasured moment is truly a very thoughtful and touching gift to receive and is certainly an event that should be commemorated in oils.

Wedding Portrait by Fabulous Masterpieces based on the couple's favourite wedding photo

A favourite wedding photograph or special big day moment may earn a distinguished place in photo albums, but the glory of a great image often deserves a more artistic and meaningful touch. Fabulous Masterpieces’ portrait artists transforms treasured wedding photographs into unique, flawless portraiture carried out with the finest materials and carefully studied techniques, resulting in a touching gift destined for prominent display. Clients can omit various details or choose to have new elements added to a painting, making it especially personal. From capturing a bride’s radiant smile to evoking the import and weight that a wedding represents, Fabulous Masterpieces‘ portraits don’t simply commemorate; they celebrate.

Photo emailed into Fabulous Masterpieces

Wedding Portrait. Oil on canvas by Fabulous Masterpieces
Far from being limited to large budgets or to the artistically inclined, the firm’s customised paintings can be ordered in various sizes and with as much or as little direction as desired, making it easy to give the perfect gift without enduring an expensive and tiresome hassle. Fabulous Masterpieces’ concentration on trusted Winsor & Newton oils, premium duck cotton canvas, and thoroughly trained, experienced portrait artists ensures each piece is truly worthy of its recipient.

For more information on commissioning a wedding portrait, please visit the Wedding Portrait page. Remember to celebrate The Royal Wedding we are offering you 15% off if you order by Monday, 2nd may, 2011.

Have a question?

We’d love to hear from you! If you would like to add something,  or ask a question concerning our oil portraits please leave a comment.

Bye for now x

Fabulous Masterpieces is the Premier UK Portrait Company. Curious to learn more about us? Then please visit the About Fabulous Masterpieces page. 

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Stubbs’ Gimcrack on Newmarket Heath to Fetch £20 Million at Christie’s

George Stubbs’ Gimcrack on Newmarket Heath, with a Trainer, a Stable-Lad, and a Jockey is estimated to sell for £20 Million this July 2011 at Christie’s London

If Stubbs’ Gimcrack painting sells for over £20 Million at Christie’s this July 5th it will make the painting, one of the five most expensive old masters ever to be auctioned off.

Gimcrack was actually a very famous and admired eighteenth century race horse. Stubbs‘ 6 foot painting shows Gimcrack twice, once in the background winning a trial and in the foreground with his trainer and jockey. The current record for a Stubbs is £10.1 Million for Stubbs’ Brood Mares and Foals, which sold at Sotheby’s in 2010. Apparently, the reason the Gimcrack painting is being sold is because the insurance costs were too high. The trustees should have commissioned Fabulous Masterpieces to hand-paint a fine art replica that they could display, and then store the original painting in their vault or with a security firm, it would have lowered costs considerably meaning they could have kept the painting.

Have a question?

We’d love to hear from you! If you would like to add something,  or ask a question concerning our art reproductions please leave a comment. To view the George Stubbs online gallery please click here.

Bye for now x

Fabulous Masterpieces is the Premier UK Art Reproduction company. Curious to learn more about us? Then please visit the About Fabulous Masterpieces page. 

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Portraits Based on Old Black and White Photos

Harry Colt’s Oil Portrait for Betchworth Park Golf Club

Betchworth Park Golf Club is celebrating its Centenary this year. To mark the occasion, following the Club’s AGM in March, an oil portrait by Fabulous Masterpieces of the course designer, Harry Colt, was presented to the Club by Barry Thomson, a Club Director.

The oil portrait was based on an old black & white photograph (shown below) and our artist was asked to paint a realist-style oil portrait in colour using this photograph as inspiration.

The Finished Result

A distinguished oil painting of Harry Colt by Fabulous Masterpieces

The artist used premium Winsor & Newton oils and expertly painted Harry Colt onto a high quality duck-cotton canvas. The oil painting took 3 weeks to paint and needed a further 2-3 weeks to dry before it could be delivered for its presentation.

Are you thinking of commissioning an oil portrait?

Commission a Portrait Artist with Fabulous Masterpieces

The whole process is so simple! Simply email or post us your photo(s) that you would like the artist to work from and we’ll do the rest. All portraits are strictly commissioned-to-order and take between 3 to 6 weeks to complete, as we also need to wait for the oils to have dried before we can deliver your painting to you!

Prices

Prices for an oil portrait based on your favourite photograph start from £250. If you would like to receive a quote please email portraits@fabulousmasterpieces.co.uk. To see the portrait price guide, please click here.

Have a question?

We’d love to hear from you! If you would like to add something,  or ask a question concerning our oil portraits please leave a comment.

Bye for now x

Fabulous Masterpieces is the Premier UK Portrait Company. Curious to learn more about us? Then please visit the About Fabulous Masterpieces page. 

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Luxury Father’s Day Gifts

Father’s Day, June 19th 2011

Commission an Oil Portrait of Father and Son this Father's Day by Fabulous Masterpieces

A Father’s day gift is all about celebrating the wonderful man who is your dad, who has done so much for you and in all probability you’re hoping to find a gift that reflects this. Commissioning a beautifully hand-painted oil painting of your father or a portrait of  dad with the family is an extremely special gift to give him this Father’s day. Portraits genuinely make special gifts as it shows how much you care through the time and thought you’ve taken into finding the photograph to base your portrait on, to thinking about the moment you would like the artist to paint for your father, and what it would mean to him.

All portraits are based on photographs that you send in meaning that the oil painting that you commission for dad is still going to be a complete surprise!

Photo of dad emailed into tim@fabulousmasterpieces.co.uk

Oil Portrait of Dad by Fabulous Masterpieces

Portraits based on your favourite photograph of your dad or family

As all of our portraits are based on a photograph or several photos, all you need to do is email your chosen photo(s) to tim@fabulousmasterpieces.co.uk or post them into us.  We can paint things into your portrait or omit details that you didn’t like in your original photograph. We can work from several photographs too! Please take a look at our Portraits from Multiple Photographs to see examples.

Commission an oil Portrait of Father and Son for Dad this Father's Day with Fabulous Masterpieces.

All portraits are custom-made & lovingly hand-painted with premium oils onto top quality canvases

Every portrait that you commission with our portrait artists is completely custom-made. Meaning, not only can we paint your portrait to any dimensions that you need, but if you wish, you can also have complete control in how you want your portrait to be painted. If you have ideas on how you would like the background to be painted for example and in what colours, please tell us. We’re really happy to listen to any of your ideas. Alternatively, if you want the artist to use their own judgement then that’s fine too!

Gift vouchers are available

If you would prefer your father to choose what photograph he would like the artist to base his portrait on, we can send you out a lovely gift voucher with a personalised message from you.

Prices

Prices start from £250 and if you would like to receive a quote please email portraits@fabulousmasterpieces.co.uk. To see the portrait price guide, please click here.

Beautiful oil paintings that capture a special moment is really an extremely touching & luxurious father’s day gift.  It is literally something that dad can keep and proudly display forever!

For more information please visit the Commission a Portrait page or The Father’s Day Gifts Page

Cut off Date

The cut off date for ordering an oil painting for Father’s Day is 5th May 2011. We deliver world-wide and delivery is free!

Have a question?

We’d love to hear from you! If you would like to add something,  or ask a question concerning our oil portraits please leave a comment.

Bye for now x

Fabulous Masterpieces is the Premier UK Portrait Company. Curious to learn more about us? Then please visit the About Fabulous Masterpieces page. 

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