MOST VALUABLE ART IN PRIVATE HANDS
by G. Fernández - theartwolf.com
Not all the Art masterworks are exhibited in the great museums of the world. Some of them belong to private Art collectors, one of the most expensive and exclusive "hobbies" reserved only to billionaires. This list highlights the most valuable paintings still in private hands, divided in three categories (old masters, impressionist & modern, and contemporary) The estimate of the works is based on many facts, including its provenance and sale history
Considerations Created: May 2008. Last updated: February 2010 |
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Old masters paintings
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Author / work / owner
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theartwolf.com estimation
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Rembrandt van Rijn This canvas, painted when the artist was over 50 years old, is arguably the best self-portrait ever created, a honest, sincere and ruthless portrait of an artist that had never show mercy to himself |
$100-150 million No other Rembrandt of such quality has appeared on the market in recent times. Old master dealer Otto Naumann valued Rembrandt's "Jan Six' in excess of $150 million. Though smaller, this canvas is also Rembrandt at his very best |
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Titian Titian's "Diana and Callisto" and "Diana and Actaeon" (both paintings have the same size, conceived as authentic pendants ) have all the splendour and glory of the best of Titian's poetries |
$100-125 million Its "twin picture" ("Diana and Actaeon") was bought for £50 million in 2009. The price (in an open market) could have been higher |
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Diego Velázquez Diego Velázquez´s "Prince Baltasar Carlos on horseback" has all the magnificence you can expect in a great baroque painting. It is a very good Velázquez, arguably his only masterpiece still in private hands, and could be the centerpiece of any major museum able to persuade the Duke of Westminster to sell it |
$90-125 million The only "great" Velázquez sold in "recent" times is "Juan de Pareja", bought by the Metropolitan in 1971 for $5.5 million, then an auction record. Inflation-adjusted, it would be $30 million now. This work is much more important. However, some doubts concerning to the authory of the figure of the Prince have affected to its previous estimation ($100-150 million) |
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Caravaggio "The Lute player" is one of the most famous compositions by Caravaggio. Three versions of the painting exists, the two displayed here and a third version at the Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg. They are a stunning testament of Caravaggio's use of the 'chiaroscuro'. The androgynous young man is also a typical figure in Caravaggio's oeuvre, as well as the still life elements on the table, specially at the Badminton version |
$75-100 million (each) When the second version was displayed at the Salander Gallery in 2007, the dealer Lawrence Salander (later filed for bankruptcy) said that the painting was "the most important painting ever sold" (false), and that $100 million would be "cheap" (debatable). This painting was sold at Sotheby's for just $110,000 in 2001, when it was still considered to be a "copy after Caravaggio". There are still some doubts concerning to the attribution of the second painting, so the estimation for it may be lower |
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Titian An early masterpiece by Titian, arguably his best portrait still in private hands. The work shows the influence of Giorgione, and has a fabulous provenance |
$70-90 million The painting is currently for sale for an asking price of £50 million. Another masterful portrait by Titian ("Alfonso d'Avalos) was bought by the Getty Museum for $70 million (not confirmed) in 2004 |
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Rembrandt van Rijn An early masterwork by Rembrandt, in which the artist already shows his masterful use of the light / shadow and the use of the perspective as a narrative tool |
$70-90 million See number 1. Auction record for a religious scene by Rembrandt is $25.8 million ("Saint James the Greater", in 2008) but this work is much better |
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Caravaggio Painted one year before Caravggio's great masterpiece "The calling of Saint Matthew", this work encompasses all the mastery of the great genious of the early Baroque painting |
$60-90 million Arguably the best painting by Caravaggio in private hands (it's a more mature work than "The Lute Player"), the doubts about its authory could affect to its hypothetical selling price. Otherwise, $100 million would be a conservative estimation. |
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Caravaggio The painting is an earlier version of the famous work currently in the Kimbell Art Museum. But don't expect this painting to be a future auction superstar: Mr. Mahon plans to donate it to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford |
$60-80 million The Kimbell Art Museum bought another version for a rumoured $15 million in 1987 ($27 million now, inflation-adjusted) The art market for high-quality old masters painting is still on the rise, and Caravaggio, whose works are 'rara avis' at auctions, is one of the most important painters ever |
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Rembrandt van Rijn Self-confident in her authoritative pose, this powerful portrait is a stunning example of Rembrandt's late portraits. Also, it has a fabulous provenance, being part of a private collection in the United Kingdom for over a century |
$50-75 million The painting is "unofficially" at the market, asking price £40 million. Rijksmuseum Amsterdam tried to acquire it, but finally refused even though it had raised almost €34 million in 2008 |
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Raphael Raphael's finest madonnas, such as this, ranks among the most recognizable images of the Italian Renaissance. The simple but strong composition and the graceful face of the virgin are stunning |
$50-75 million A smaller madonna by Raphael, the "Madonna of the pinks", was acquired by the UK in 2004 for £22 million. Auction record for Raphael is $47.9 million for the drawing "Head of a muse", in December 2009 |
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Raphael Not as famous as the previous work, this beautiful tondo is also part of the fabulous collection of the Duke of Sutherland. The figures and the landscape shows the influence of Leonardo da Vinci |
$50-75 million See previous work |
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Joseph Mallord William Turner Turner at his best. The greatest work by Turner in private hands is an audacious, almost abstract masterpiece |
$50-75 million Sold for £7.3 million in 1984 (then an auction record for any painting) Auction record for a Turner is $35 million for "San Giorgio Maggiore" at Christie's, 2006, but this is a better painting |
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John Constable A highly poetical and emotional work by Constable, painted one year after the death of his wife |
$50-75 million Auction record for Constable is $21 million for "The Lock" in 1990 ($33 million now, inflation-adjusted) This is a far better work. In fact, it's not only the finest Constable in private hands, but also one of his 5 or 6 best paintings |
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Rembrandt van Rijn Two great portraits of a wealthy couple by Rembrandt, widely published. |
$45-60 million (each) Compare with the "Catrina Hoohsaet". Imposing in scale, they are not Rembrandt at his very best, as the genious was only 28 at the time of painting the pair |
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Impressionist and modern
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Author / work / owner
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theartwolf.com estimation
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Pablo Picasso The "Sleeping Beauty" of the art market, stored like a fine wine in a bank's vault since the early 90s. Arguably the best Picasso still in private hands, this painting is masterful in all senses, and concentrates all the magic, mystery and melancholy of the Blue and Pink periods |
$100-150 million Sold for $51.67 million in Paris, 1989 ($86 million now). Picasso's masterpieces have considerably increased their values: "Garçon a la pipe" was sold for $104 million in 2004 (world auction record), and "The dream" (see below) was about to be sold for $139 million when an accident aborted the sale |
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Gustav Klimt The painting was part of a group of five canvases that were returned to the heirs of Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer. The painting was purchased by cosmetic magnate Ronald Lauder to be the centerpiece of his Neue Galerie in NY |
$100-130 million Sold for $135 million at a private sale, 2006 (then a record price for any painting). Art market for modern paintings is now a bit colder |
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Pablo Picasso This sensual work is the best "mature" portrait by Picasso still in private hands, depicting his lover Marie-Therese Walter sitting on a red armchair with her eyes closed |
$85-120 million Sold for $48.4 million in New York, 1997. Almost sold privately for $139 million in 2006, but was damaged before the sale. This accident can affect to its market value |
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Vincent van Gogh The story about this famous and brilliant work resumes by itself the "Japanese buyer boom" on the late 80s and early 90s: The whereabouts of the painting are now unknown. Some sources places it in Europe , waiting for its return to the Art market |
$85-120 million Sold for $82.5 million in 1990 (then an auction record, equivalent to almost $130 million now) Re-sold in late 90s for an unknown price to an anonymous private collector |
 no color reproductions available |
Claude Monet Hidden in a private collection for decades, this monumental canvas is the most important Monet in private hands |
$85-120 million Auction record for Monet is $80.6 million for a smaller (100-200 cm.) "nympheas" canvas. |
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Pablo Picasso This sensual and colorful masterpiece by Picasso is the most expensive painting ever sold at auction. The work had been never exhibited in public since 1961 |
$90-110 million Sold for $106.5 million in New York, May 2010 (auction record for a work of art) |
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Pablo Picasso The sale of this young smoker was a milestone in the Art auctions world, being the first painting that reached the $100 million barrier |
$90-105 million Sold for $104.1 million in New York, 2004 (then an auction record) |
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Paul Cézanne This is the last version of this famous composition by Paul Cézanne. The fabulous psychological intensity in the faces of the players make of this canvas a masterpiece of the post-impressionist painting |
$80-100 million Unlike Picasso or van Gogh, Cézanne is an artist whose great works appear very rarely on the art market. World auction record for the artist is $60.5 million for a still life in 1999, but "Card players" is widely considered the best Cézanne in private hands |
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Vincent van Gogh Van Gogh's self portraits rank among the most famous images in the history of Western painting. This highly important work was previously in the collection of Leigh B. Block in Chicago |
$80-100 million Quietly purchased by the Niarchos family for a rumoured price of $80/90 million in early 90s. A less important self-portrait by Van Gogh was sold for $71.5 million in 1998 |
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Wassily Kandinsky One of the most important paintings still in private hands. With its impressive scale and its rich composition, the canvas is a quintessence of the early abstraction. |
$75-100 million Sold for $50 million in 1998 at a private sale. No other Kandinsky of such importance have been sold in recent times |
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Pierre Auguste Renoir Although it is only the smaller version of the picture you can see in the Orsay, a lot of collectors would kill to be the owner of "the most beautiful painting of the XIX", in the words of some art critics |
$75-100 million Sold for $78.1 million in 1990. Resold for a lower price at a private sale, c.1998 |
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Pablo Picasso Picasso's sensual portraits from the early 30s ranks among his greatest achievements, and of course among the most coveted artworks. Impressive in scale, this canvas depicts his lover Marie-Therese Walter |
$75-100 million Sold for $45 million in 1999. Compare with "The dream" (see above), which was sold for $48 million in 1997 and was later valued at $139 million in 2006; and with the "Nude, Green Leaves and Bust", sold for $106.5 million in 2010 |
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Pablo Picasso Dora Maar (1907-1997) met Picasso in 1930, and their sentimental relation lasts until 1946. A native from Paris, Maar was one of Picasso's favourite models |
$75-95 million Sold for $95.2 million at Sotheby's New York, 2006. As said before, art market for modern paintings is colder now, and this is not a masterpiece, though it is certainly a stunning composition |
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Paul Gauguin The whole picture is filled with the melancholic taste of a farewell, predicting the artist's own death a few months later. This fancy coloured work is Gauguin's pictorial testament and an eloquent ode to the Polynesia |
$65-90 million World auction record for Gauguin is $40.3 million for another Tahitian scene, "L'homme à la hache", in 2006. Other two Tahitian scenes were sold for $39.2 million in 2004 and 2007. Widely exhibited and published, this work should be considered Gauguin's finest work still in private hands |
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Paul Cézanne This is one of the best depictions of the Mount Sainte-Victoire painted by Cézanne, similar to the one selected by theartwolf.com as one of the 50 masterworks of painting |
$60-90 million "La Montagne Sainte Victoire", a less developed and less important depiction of the same Mount, was sold at Phillips for $38.1 million in 2001 |
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Contemporary
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Author / work / owner
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theartwolf.com estimation
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Jackson Pollock Pollock at his best. Along with "Lavender Mist", "Blue Poles", "Autumn Rhythm" and "Out of the web", this painting is the height of Pollock's power |
$150-200 million Pollock holds the record for the most expensive painting ever ($140 million, see below), and this work is widely considered his best work in private hands. Before the "contemporary Art Boom" of the 2006, collector David Geffen offered $50 million for the work, but was refused |
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Willem de Kooning This painting is the only "Woman" by Willem de Kooning still in private hands. One of this "women" has been chosen by theartwolf.com as one of the 50 masterworks of the history of painting |
$100-140 million Sold for $137.5 million at a private sale, 2006 |
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Jackson Pollock Another stunning drip by Pollock, done on a sheet of fiberboard with brown and yellow paint over it |
$100-140 million Sold for $140 million at a private sale, 2006, which is the highest price ever paid for a painting. The buyer was rumoured to be David Martínez, Mexican businessman, though he later denied it |
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Andy Warhol This giant canvas is one of the largest portraits of the communist leader painted by the Pop-Art icon, Andy Warhol |
$80-120 million The painting is reportedly for sale, asking price $120 million. Given the latest market trends, a valuation of $90 - 100 million seems more pausible |
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Jasper Johns One of the largest and more important works by Johns, measuring over 4 meters in length |
$80-100 million Sold for just $4.2 million in 1988 (then an auction record for Johns, now a bargain) It is a more important work than the "False start" sold for $80 million in 2006 (see below) |
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Andy Warhol An icon of Pop Art, Warhol used to create several versions of his works. Nevertheless, "Eight Elvises" is an unique composition |
$80-100 million Sold privately for $100 million in 2008 (previously at the Annibale Berlingieri collection) |
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Francis Bacon The greatest work by Bacon in private hands, the work draws on Ancient Greek mythology to express Bacon's personal tragedy |
$75-90 million Sold for $86.3 million at Sotheby's NY, May 2008. Though Art market for Bacon is colder now, this is a true masterpiece |
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Willem de Kooning This 200.7 x 175.3 cm. canvas is arguably the greatest "classic" de Kooning in private hands, even better than the "Police Gazette" purchased by Mr. Cohen for $63 million in 2006 |
$65-90 million Sold for $20.6 million in 1989 (then an auction record for a contemporary painting) |
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Jasper Johns Another "classic" work by Johns, right now the most expensive painting by a living artist |
$70-85 million Sold privately for $80 million in 2006 |
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Mark Rothko Another colossal canvas by Rothko, in which the artist have created a more complex composition |
$65-85 million Auction record for Rothko is $72.8 million in 2007, for "White center" (see below). Art market seems to have corrected from its excesses, but great works such as this are still coveted |
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Francis Bacon This monumental tryptich was created in memory of Bacon's lover, George Dyer |
$60-85 million Compare with "Tryptich, 1976" (see above). This tryptich was sold in 1989 for $6.3 million, then an auction record for Bacon. Other tryptich by Bacon, (Triptych 1974-77) was sold for £26.3 million ($51.7 million) in 2008 |
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Mark Rothko Another example of Rothko at his best, though a bit smaller than the "White band" (see below) |
$60-80 million Sold for $72.8 million in 2007, still an auction record for Rothko. Read the comments on "Red, Orange, Tan, and Purple" (above) |
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Mark Rothko There are still several great Rothkos in private hands, but this very large canvas is one of the most important |
$60-80 million See "White center (Yellow, Pink and Lavender on Rose)" |
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Andy Warhol The largest work of Warhol's iconic "Campbell's Soup" series |
$60-80 million "200 one dollar bills" was sold for $43.8 million in 2009, but works from "Campell's Soup Cans" are much more famous and coveted. Auction record for Warhol is $71.7 million ("Green Car Crash", 2007) |
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Jackson Pollock This large (over 9 feet long) and stunning canvas dates from Pollock's "golden age" (1947-1953) |
$60-80 million Not a "perfect" Pollock as "Lucifer" or "Number 5" (see above), but also an important work |
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Roy Lichtenstein Lichtenstein is "the next real thing" in the contemporary Art market. Pollock, de Kooning, Rothko, Warhol, Johns and Rothko are now the artists whose works can be sold for more than $50 million. But Lichtenstein will be added to that group soon. Time to time |
on request. contact us for info Sold for $5.5 million in 1989. Sold privately for $14 million in 1998 |
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