Wikicollecting's Top 10 Most Expensive Picasso Paintings Discover how the work of Pablo Picasso continues to dominate the art market with this top 10 price guide from Wikicollecting.org
News-Antique.com - Nov 04,2011 - 10) Au Lapin Agile
Painted in 1904, this work depicts the renowned Monmartre cabaret of the same name. In 1905 Picasso gave the painting as a gift to the Cabaret’s owner Frédé, who later sold in 1912 for just $20.
In 1952 it was purchased by collector Joan Whitney Payson for a price of $60,000, and later consigned to a Sotheby’s auction by her daughter Lorinda de Roulet. It was sold in 1989 for a price of $40.7 million.
9) ‘La Lecture’ (1932)
One of a series of portraits of Picasso’s mistress and muse Marie-Thérèse Walter, the painting was initially exhibited exhibited in 1932 in the Galerie Georges Petit in Paris.
During its history it passed through a number of high profile private art collections, before being sold at a London Sotheby’s auction in February 2011. After just six frantic minutes of bidding, it sold to an anonymous collector for a price of $40,711612.
8) Yo, Picasso (1910)
This 1901 self-portrait, created during Picasso’s ‘Blue Period’, previously sold at a Sotheby’s auction in 1981 for a price of $5.8 million to collector Wendell Cherry. Cherry then sold it in May 1989 at another Sotheby’s auction for a price of $47.9 million, making it the second-most expensive artwork ever sold to that date.
7) Le Rêve
Part of the same series of portraits as ‘La Lecture’, this work depicts Picasso’s lover Marie-Thérèse Walter asleep in a chair. It was previously sold at a Christie’s auction in November 1997 for a price of $48.4 million, making it the sixth most expensive paiting ever sold to that point.
According to legend, in 2006 the painting’s current owner Steve Wynn agreed to sell the work to renowned art collector Steven A. Cohen for $139 million. However, whilst showing it to friends Wynn accidentally put his elbow through the painting and the resulting repairs lowered its value to $85 million. Wynn took this as a sign not to sell the work, and it remains in his collection.
6) Femme Assise dans un Jardin
This 1938 painting depicts another of Picasso’s former lovers, the surrealist photographer Dora Maar. Painted in his Cubist style, the work was allegedly executed in a single day. Formerly part of the collection of the renowned cellist and composer Daniel Saidenberg, the work was sold after his death in 1997.
It appeared in a Sotheby’s auction in New York in 1999, where it sold for a price of $49,502,500.
5) Les Noces de Pierrette (1905)
This Blue Period piece was painted in 1905, and originally purchased by the art dealer Josef Stránský in 1907 directly from the artist. It was later owned by Picasso’s own son Paulo Picasso, from 1945 until 1962, when it was acquired by the Swedish financier Frederick Roos.
Roos donated the work to the French Government, who later sold it at an auction by Binoche et Godeau in November 1989 for a price of $51,670,000.
4) Femme aux Bras Croisés (1902)
This ‘Blue Period’ portrait of a woman,
