Top 10 Most Expensive Pieces of Art Sold in 2016

art

 

What makes a piece of art truly great? For some it’s the artist and for others it’s the piece itself. Still, for others it’s a combination of the two. It is difficult to put a finger on what makes something truly artistic, as well as determining a piece of art’s true value. After all, beauty and value are very subjective in the art world. However, the following paintings have definitely found beauty (and value) in the eyes of their beholders.

No. 10 – Kerry James Marshall- Plunge (1992) – $2.1 million

Plunge by Kerry James Marshall kicks off the list. This acrylic and paper collage on canvas is symbolic of the slave trade era. It garnered just north of $2 million at Christie’s.

No. 9 – Frida Kahlo – Two Nudes In A Forest (1939) – $8 million

This piece has seen a huge increase in value over the past two decades as twentieth century female artists have grown in popularity. While it once sold for $150,000 in 1989, this painting just fetched $8 million in 2016.

No. 8 – Richard Prince – Runaway Nurse (2006) – $9.7 million

This painting sold for just $6.8 million five years ago, but it has increased in value by nearly $3 million over that time period. Purchased for $9.7 million in 2016 by Yusaku Maezawa, this contemporary piece from 2006 is part of Richard Prince’s “Nurse” series and has earned a lot of attention from both those in and outside of the art world.

No. 7 – Sam Francis – Summer #1 (1957) – $10.4 million

Sam Francis has seen several of his pieces increase in value in the last few years, including this postwar/contemporary piece from 1957.

No. 6 – Agnes Martin – Orange Grove (1965) – $10.7 million

Perhaps the buyer of this painting loves oranges. It was expected to garner about $6-$8 million at auction but ended up fetching close to $11 million.

No. 5 – Claude Monet – Le bassin aux nympheas (1919) – $27 million

While most of Monet’s pieces are actually housed in museums, this one went on the block this year and fetched $27 million at auction.

No. 4 – Mark Rothko – No. 17 (1957) – $32.6 million

Coming in at number four is this symbolic postwar piece by Mark Rothko, which sold for more than $32 million at Christie’s earlier this year.

No. 3 – Jean-Michel Basquiat – Untitled (1982) – $57.2 million

This contemporary piece from 1982 is one of the top attractions in the neo- expressionist art genre, and it continues to increase in value. Twelve years ago it sold for just $4.5 million. But just like Runaway Nurse, it was purchased by Yusaku Maezawa for more than $57 million.

No. 2 – Peter Paul Rubens – Lot and His Daughters (1613-14) – $58 million

This is the second most expensive Rubens painting ever, trailing only his “Master of the Innocents.” This is an extremely old painting as well as extremely valuable.

No. 1 – Pablo Picasso – Femme Assise (1909) – $63.4 million

Picasso is not for everyone, but there’s no doubt his paintings have fetched some of the highest amounts of money in the world, including in 2016, which saw his Femme Assise sale for just over $63 million. Much of the value comes from this painting being credited with introducing a new form of art. And of course, it’s a Picasso.

You also might like the article Art as an Investment

Follow GROCO on Facebook

Posted in
How to Support Your People through Compassion, Compliance and Accountability

How to Support Your People through Compassion, Compliance and Accountability

People First How can you support your people through compassion, compliance and accountability? As organizations continue to navigate the ever-changing landscape this pandemic presents, it is important to stay aware of the impact on employees due to illness, reduced hours, or loss of unemployment. Employees are facing increased emotions, heightened anxiety, fear, added stress from…

COVID‐19 virus Message from Managing Partner Alan Olsen

COVID‐19 virus Message from Managing Partner Alan Olsen

COVID‐19 virus Message from Managing Partner Alan Olsen March 17, 2020 Dear Clients and Friends, Greenstein, Rogoff, Olsen & Co., LLP (GROCO) CPAs & Advisors remains committed to serving our clients. We hope this email finds you and your family well and in good health. If the COVID‐19 virus is affecting you or a loved…

Trump Proposes to Cut Payroll Taxes to 0%

Trump Proposes to Cut Payroll Taxes to 0%

This week, President Trump pitched cutting the payroll tax to 0% for both employees and employers through the end of the year. There’s also some discussion of making the change permanent. The intent of the cut is to stimulate the economy in the wake of the corona virus outbreak and oil price war.   What does…

The Biden Administration Corporate Tax Proposal

House Committee Hearing on Wayfair Tax Compliance

House Committee Hearing on Wayfair Tax Compliance…