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. We have focused on the private paintings that are still not exhibited in private foundations or galleries, so in this list you'll not find any painting from some "private" Institutions, just like the Getty Foundation in California or the E. G Buhrle in Zurich. Also, we have not included some important artworks from some countries (Italy, Spain...) with highly restricting export limitations. Then, works such as the third panel of the "Nastagio degli Onesti" series by Botticelli will not appear in this list |
| OLD MASTERS PAINTINGS | Author / work / owner | theartwolf estimate (low-high) |
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Rembrandt: "Self-portrait", 1659 Duke of Sutherland collection 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
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Velázquez: "Prince Baltasar Carlos on horseback", 1636 Duke of Westminster collection Diego Velázquez´s "Prince Baltasar Carlos on horseback" has all the magnificence you can expect in a great baroque painting. In addition, is the last masterpiece by Velázquez still in private hands |
$100-150 million |
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Titian: "Diana and Actaeon" / "Diana and Callisto", 1559 Duke of Sutherland collection 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 |
$60-100 million (each) |
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Titian: "Portrait of a man", c.1515-20 Earl of Halifax collection An early masterpiece by Titian, arguably his best portrait still in private hands |
$70-90 million The painting is currently for sale for an asking price of £50 million |
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Rembrandt: "Judas returning the 30 pieces of silver", 1629 Marquess of Normanby collection 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 |
$60-80 million |
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Caravaggio: "The Cardsharps", 1594 Sir Denis Mahon collection 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 |
$50-80 million |
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Peter Paul Rubens: "Massacre of Innocents", 1611/12 Kenneth Thompson collection Currently the most expensive old master painting ever sold at auction. Some doubts about its attribution could affect to its estimate value, although most critics believe it to be an authentic Rubens |
$50-80 million Sold for £49.5 million in 2002 |
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Rembrandt: "Portrait of Marten Soolmans" and "Portrait of Oopjen Coppit", 1634 Paris, private collection Two great portraits by Rembrandt, either in quality and in scale (207 - 132 cm. each). |
$50-80 million (each) |
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J.M.W. Turner: "Seascape, Folkestone", 1845 New York , private collection The greatest work by Turner in private hands (far better than the $35 million "San Giorgio Maggiore") is an audacious, almost abstract masterpiece |
$50-75 million Sold for £7.3 million in 1984 (then an auction record for any painting) |
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Sandro Botticelli: "Portrait of Dante", c.1495-98 Private collection, Switzerland Although small in scale and simple in composition, this is perhaps the last icon of the Italian Renaissance still in private hands |
$45-75 million |
| IMPRESSIONIST / MODERN | Author / work / owner | theartwolf estimate (low-high) |
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Pablo Picasso: "Les noces de Pierrette", 1905 Private collection, Japan The"Sleeping Beauty" of the art market, stored like a fine wine in a bank's vault since the early 90s. The 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 |
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Gustav Klimt: "Adele Bloch-Bauer I", 1907 Ronald Lauder collection (Neue Galerie, New York) 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 |
$100-135 million Sold for $135 million at a private sale, 2006 (then a record price for any painting) |
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Pablo Picasso: "La rêve (the dream)", 1932 Steve Wynn collection 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 |
$90-130 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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Pablo Picasso: "Garçon a la pipe", 1904 Private collection The sale of this young smoker was a milestone in the Art auctions world, being the first painting that reached the $100 million barrier |
$90-110 million Sold for $104.1 million in New York, 2004 (then an auction record) |
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Paul Cézanne: "The Card Players", 1902 George Embiricos collection This is the last version of this very important painting still in private hands |
$75-110 million |
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Vincent van Gogh: "Portrait of Doctor Gachet", 1890 Private collection 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 |
$80-100 million Sold for $82.5 million in 1990 (then an auction record) Re-sold in late 90s for an unknown price to an anonymous private collector |
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Vincent van Gogh: "Self-portrait with bandaged ear" 1889 Niarchos collection This highly important work was previously in the collection of Leigh B. Block in Chicago , and then was quietly purchased by the Niarchos family |
$80-100 million |
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Wassily Kandinsky: "Composition V", 1911 Ronald Lauder collection One of the most important paintings still in private hands. The painting is a quintessence of the early abstraction. |
$75-100 million Sold for $50 million in 1998 at a private sale |
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Pierre Auguste Renoir: "Dance at le Moulin de la Gallette", 1876 Private collection 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 |
$75-95 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: "Dora Maar au chat", 1941 Private collection 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 in New York, 2006 |
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Pablo Picasso: "Portrait of Sebastian Junyent", 1905 Private collection Very few great canvases from Picasso's Blue Period are still in private hands. This double portrait is one of the very best. |
$65-90 million |
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Paul Gauguin: "Riders on the beach", 1902 Niarchos collection The whole picture is filled with the melancholic taste of a farewell, predicting the artist's own death a few months after. This fancy coloured work is Gauguin's pictorial testament and an eloquent ode to the Polynesia |
$65-90 million |
| CONTEMPORARY | Author / work / owner | theartwolf estimate (low-high) |
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Jackson Pollock: "Lucifer", 1947 The Anderson Collection, San Francisco Pollock at his best. Along with the "Lavender Mist", the "Blue Poles",the "Summertime" and the "Out of the web", this painting is the height of Pollock's power |
$150-200 million |
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Jackson Pollock: "Number 5", 1948 Private collection, USA Right now, this stunning "drip" by Jackson Pollock is the most expensive painting ever sold, though the stunning price is still not confirmed (but also not denied). |
$100-150 million Sold for $140 million at a private sale, 2006 |
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Willem de Kooning: "Woman III", 1953 Steve Cohen collection 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 |
$100-150 million Sold for $137.5 million at a private sale, 2006 |
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Jasper Johns: "Diver", 1962 Collection Norman and Irma Braman One of the largest and more important works by Johns, measuring over 4 meters in length |
$80-110 million |
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Francis bacon: "Tryptich, 1976", 1976 Private collection 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 |
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Willem de Kooning: "Interchange", 1955 David Geffen collection 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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Jackson Pollock: "White cockatoo - Number 24A", 1948 Private collection, California This large (over 9 feet long) and stunning canvas dates from Pollock's "golden age" (1947-1953) |
$60-90 million |
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Mark Rotho: "White band, number 27", 1954 Anne Marion Collection There are still several great Rothkos in private hands, but this very large canvas is perhaps the most important |
$60-90 million |
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Jasper Johns: "False start", 1959 Steve Cohen collection 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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Roy Lichtenstein: "Torpedo... Los!", 1963 Charles Simonyi collection Lichtenstein is "the next real thing" in the contemporary Art market. Pollock, de Kooning, Rothko, 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 |
$55-85 million Sold for $5.5 million in 1989. Sold privately for $14 million in 1998 |
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