The 10 most expensive paintings by Andy Warhol

On August 6, Andy Warhol was born-a mirror of the era of the 70s, a genius of pop art and commercial art. His paintings once made a splash not only in the cultural sphere, but also in the public consciousness. This artist has never been shy about monetizing his art. And he has a lot to learn from. On the occasion of the birthday of the genius provocateur, we offer to recall the ten most expensive of his works.

1. "The accident of the silver car" (1963) — 105.4 million dollars

Warhol's most famous work is from his large-scale series "Death and Catastrophes". In November 2013, it went under the hammer for a staggering $ 105 million-plus. This transaction made the painting the second most expensive among all works of modern art. The leadership is held by Picasso's canvas "Algerian Women" (179 million).

2. " The Eight Elvises "(1963) — $ 100 million

Until the Silver Car Crash was sold in New York, Warhol's most expensive painting was an intricate portrait of the king of rock and roll. It was purchased for a private collection in October 2008 for exactly one hundred million.

3. " Triple Elvis (Ferus Tip)" ("Tripple Elvis (Ferus Tipe)"(1963) – 81.9 million dollars.

Sold in November 2014. This work – one of two sold by Thomas Ammann to a German casino in the 70s-became the top lot at Christie's auction.

4. "Turquoise Marilyn" (1964) — $ 80 million

Norma Jean Baker, better known as Marilyn Monroe, became an icon and a dream of all men during her lifetime. So her image performed by the genius of pop art was destined to become a hit. The exact amount that the American collector paid for one of the 13 portraits of Monroe painted by Warhol is unknown. It is believed that he counted out about 80 million.

5. "The accident of the green car" ("Burning green car-1") (1963) — 71.7 million dollars

The combined picture, created on the basis of photos of a car crash in Seattle, is still inferior in value to its silver "colleague". The Greek Philip Niarkos bought it at an auction at Christie's in 2007 for 71 million. Well, nothing, in ten years they will pay 171.

6. "Four Marlons" ("Four Marlons") of 1966 – 69.6 million dollars

The painting was sold in November 2014 at Christie's auction for $ 69.6 million. The work was put up for auction in a pair with the "Triple Elvis". To create this canvas, Warhol used photographs of Marlon Brando in the image of the hero of the 1953 film "The Savage".

7. "The Men in Her Life" (1962) — $ 63.4 million

Warhol did not particularly like women and captured only seven representatives of the beautiful half of humanity on canvases: Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Liza Minnelli, Jacqueline Kennedy, Debbie Harry, Brigitte Bardot and Elizabeth II. A black-and-white image of Taylor with her two husbands was sold to an anonymous collector at the Phillips de Pury auction in New York & Co in 2010.

8." Race riots "("Race Riot") (in four parts) (1964) — 62.8 million dollars.

The only work of the artist on an openly political theme was sold at auction by Christie's to one buyer, who made a complete work of it.

9. " The Statue of Liberty "(1962) — $ 43.8 million.

Andy Warhol's three-dimensional composition "The Statue of Liberty" went under the hammer at the end of 2012 at Christie's auction in New York. This is the only remaining work in private hands from the series made by the" father of pop art " in 3D format. The other two belong to museums, including the Andy Warhol Museum in his native Pittsburgh.

10. "200 one-dollar bills" (1962) — 43.2 million dollars.

In November 2009, the painting was sold at Sotheby's auction to an anonymous buyer. The purchase was made in London through the collector Pauline Karpidas, who bought the work in 1986 for only 385 thousand dollars.