The most expensive paintings ever sold in the world

It has become very easy for the average individual to invest in a painting, numbered edition or sculpture for their personal art collection. However, some pieces for sale at private auctions have been sold for staggering, record-breaking amounts of money. Artalistic brings you a comprehensive list of the world's most expensive paintings.

The world's most expensive paintings: 2019

1. Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci ($450 million):The world's most expensive and enigmatic painting

Leonardo da Vinci's Salvator Mundi is at the top of the list of the world's most expensive paintings. This oil on walnut wood, whose name translates to "Savior of the World," is the most expensive painting of all time. It depicts Christ making the sign of the cross with his right hand, while holding a crystal orb in his left. This orb represents the celestial sphere of the heavens. The piece was purchased by an anonymous collector in 2017. Although, rumor has it that it was purchased by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

2. When Will You Marry? by Paul Gauguin & Interchange – Willem de Kooning ($300 million)

When Will you Marry by Paul Gauguin (1892) and Interchange by the Dutch-American painter Willem de Kooning are tied for second place. Gauguin's painting was sold in 2015 in a private sale in Qatar. In 2015 David Geffen sold De Kooning's painting to the billionaire Ken Griffin.

3. The Card Players by Paul Cézanne ($274 million)

The Card Players, painted in 1895, depicts a group of farmers playing cards. It is part of a series of five paintings created by Cézanne during his final period in the late 1890s. It is owned by the Royal Family of Qatar. The other four pieces are in museum collections at the Musée d'Orsay, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Barnes Foundation and the Courtauld Institute of Art.

4. Number 17A by Jackson Pollock ($200 million)

Jackson Pollock created Number 17A in 1948. This painting is a prime example of Pollock's action painting style in which he used his entire body to make dance-like gestures to splatter, drip and dribble paint over massive canvases. In 2015, this piece was sold by the David Geffen Foundation to Kenneth C. Griffin for $200 million.

5. No. 6 (Violet, green and red) by Mark Rothko ($186 million)

This iconic painting by the Latvian-American abstract expressionist Mark Rothko was painted in 1951. This piece showcases Rothko's striking, signature style, featuring large expanses of color delineated by uneven, hazy shades. In 2014, it was purchased by a Russian businessman Dmitry Rybolovlev. A scandal ensued between the Russian Collector and the Swiss art merchant, Yves Bouvier, who was accused of overvaluing and overpricing several paintings.

6. Women of Algiers by Pablo Picasso ($179 million)

Pablo Picasso painted this piece in 1955. It is part of a series of fifteen pieces created to pay homage to artists that he admired. This piece captures Picasso's inimitable style. In 2015, it was sold by Christie's New York for $179.4 million, setting the record price for a painting sold at auction. Over the past five years, art sales have broken new records. This painting is now the sixth most expensive painting ever sold!

7. Reclining Nude by Amedeo Modigliani ($170 million)

When Modigliani painted this magnificent piece in 1917 he probably never thought that it would become one of the world's most expensive paintings. One of this Italian artist's other paintings was sold in 2018 for a little less than $150 million.

8. Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) by David Hockney ($80 millions)

David Hockney made history with this famous piece (1972), which made him the world's most expensive living artist. Hockney recently sold another one of his paintings entitled Splash for $29.8 million. This British painter's reputation remains strong!