Marcus Chen
Vincent van Gogh is one of the most famous painters of all time, with his original artworks selling for millions. Van Gogh's paintings only occasionally come onto the market, and they fetch huge sums. The most expensive Van Gogh painting ever to go on sale, Orchard with Cypresses, was painted in Arles in 1888 and sold for $65 million in 1998. Another notable mention is the Portrait of Dr Paul Gachet, which sold for $82.5 million in 1990 and is considered one of Van Gogh's finest portraits.
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What You'll Learn
Portrait of Dr Paul Gachet
The Portrait of Dr Paul Gachet, completed in June 1890, is one of the most revered paintings by Vincent van Gogh. It is also his second most expensive artwork ever sold, fetching $82.5 million ($75 million, plus a 10% buyer's commission) at a 1990 auction in New York. Adjusted for inflation, the price would be $198.6 million today, making it the most expensive Van Gogh in real terms.
The painting depicts Dr Paul Gachet, a homeopathic doctor and artist who took care of Van Gogh during the final months of his life. Gachet's head is propped on his hand, with his elbow resting on a red table. On the table are two yellow books and a foxglove plant, from which digitalis is extracted to treat certain heart conditions. The doctor's melancholic expression is set against a background of hills, with his ultramarine blue coat highlighting his tired, pale features.
Van Gogh created two versions of the portrait, both painted in June 1890 at Auvers-sur-Oise. The first version was sold in 1897 by Van Gogh's sister-in-law, Johanna van Gogh-Bonger, for 300 francs. It was then bought by Paul Cassirer in 1904, Kessler in 1904, and Druet in 1910. In 1911, the painting was acquired by the Städel (Städtische Galerie) in Frankfurt, Germany, and hung there until 1933. During World War II, the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda confiscated the work as part of its campaign against so-called degenerate art. Hermann Göring, through his agent Sepp Angerer, sold it to Franz Koenigs in Paris.
The second edition of the Portrait of Dr Paul Gachet is currently displayed at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.
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Orchard with Cypresses
Vincent van Gogh's Orchard with Cypresses (Verger avec cyprès in French) is a vibrant painting created in 1888 in Arles. It showcases a fenced orchard with two mature peach trees, three smaller fruit trees, a reed wicker fence, pear trees, and a row of cypress trees in the background. This was the first time that Van Gogh painted cypress trees, a motif that would become prominent in his later works, including the famed Starry Night (June 1889).
The painting is known for its exuberant use of colour, with shades of green, blue, and red, capturing the coming of spring and Van Gogh's optimism about his new life in Provence. Van Gogh employed a pointillist style, using thick impasto paint and stippling or speckled dots to capture the sparkling light and springtime colours.
On November 9, 2022, Orchard with Cypresses was auctioned by Christie's New York branch and sold for $117.2 million to an anonymous buyer, setting a new record for the highest amount paid for a work by Van Gogh. The painting was expected to sell for over $100 million, and the final price, including the buyer's premium, exceeded that estimate.
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Cabanes de bois parmi les oliviers et cyprès
Painted in October 1889, the work depicts the wooden cabins visible from Van Gogh's room at the Saint-Rémy asylum. The painting is part of a series on olive trees that aim to depict the cycle of life. Van Gogh's use of exuberant colours, such as turquoise and bright orange, to depict the sky and sunlit landscape conveys a sense of optimism.
The painting combines Van Gogh's favourite Provençal motifs—the olive and cypress—and encapsulates the defining characteristics of the artist's mature style that emerged during his time in Saint-Rémy. In a letter to his brother Theo, Van Gogh wrote:
> The olive trees are very characteristic, and I’m struggling to capture that. It’s silver, sometimes more blue, sometimes greenish, bronzed, whitening on ground that is yellow, pink, purplish or orangish to dull red ochre. But very difficult, very difficult. But that suits me and attracts me to work fully in gold or silver.
The painting has only been exhibited twice since the 1920s: in 1949 (London) and 1980 (Mons, Belgium).
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Sunflowers
The sunflower paintings had a special significance for Van Gogh: they communicated "gratitude", he wrote. He hung the first two in the room of his friend, the painter Paul Gauguin, who came to live with him for a while in the Yellow House. Gauguin was impressed by the sunflowers, which he thought were "completely Vincent". Van Gogh had already painted a new version during his friend’s stay, and Gauguin later asked for one as a gift, which Van Gogh was reluctant to give him.
In a letter to Theo dating from 21 or 22 August 1888, Van Gogh wrote: "I'm painting with the gusto of a Marseillais eating bouillabaisse, which won’t surprise you when it's a question of painting large sunflowers." At the time, he was working on three paintings simultaneously and intended to do more, as he explained to his brother: "in the hope of living in a studio of our own with Gauguin, I'd like to do a decoration for the studio. Nothing but large sunflowers".
Van Gogh’s Sunflowers was the first time a "modern" (in this case, 1888) painting became the record holder. Old master paintings had previously dominated the market. Sunflowers is perhaps Van Gogh's best-known and most widely reproduced series.
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Self-portrait Without a Beard
"Self-Portrait Without a Beard" is one of Vincent van Gogh's most famous self-portraits. It was painted in 1889, shortly after the artist had a fallout with his friend Gauguin, which resulted in van Gogh mutilating his own ear. The painting is a haunting image, depicting the artist with a melancholy expression, reflecting his mental state at the time. It is believed to be one of the last self-portraits van Gogh painted before his death.
The painting is a valuable piece of art, selling for $71.5 million in 1998 in New York City. At the time, it was the third or fourth most expensive painting ever sold when adjusted for inflation. The work is considered rare and highly valued by art collectors. Van Gogh's self-portraits are unique insights into the artist's life and mind, and this particular painting conveys his sadness, helplessness, and vulnerability through its depiction of a beardless, boyish face.
The ownership history of the painting is quite interesting. It was given by van Gogh to his mother as a birthday gift. Later, it was sold at auction to an anonymous buyer for the impressive sum of $71.5 million. While this is a significant amount, it is not the highest price ever paid for a van Gogh painting. That record belongs to "Portrait of Dr. Paul Gachet," which sold for $83 million in 1990 and would be worth around $200 million today.
Van Gogh's works are known to fetch huge sums at auctions, and they rarely come onto the market. When they do, it is usually through discreet private sales. "Self-Portrait Without a Beard" is a testament to the artist's genius, and its high sale price reflects its importance in the art world. The painting's value has only increased over time, and it remains one of the most expensive paintings ever sold, even when compared to more recent sales.
While the painting's emotional and artistic value is undeniable, its sale price also reflects the broader art market and the demand for van Gogh's work. It is worth noting that the art market can be unpredictable, and factors such as inflation, private sales, and the prestige of the artist can influence the prices of these masterpieces. Despite not holding the top spot, "Self-Portrait Without a Beard" remains a significant and valuable piece of art history, beloved by art enthusiasts and scholars alike.
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Frequently asked questions
The most expensive painting by Vincent van Gogh is the first version of 'Portrait of Doctor Paul Gachet', which sold for $82.5 million in 1990. Adjusted for inflation, the painting would be valued at $152 million in today's market.
The second most expensive painting by Vincent van Gogh is 'Orchard with Cypresses', which was acquired by Paul Allen in 1998. While the exact price is unknown, it is estimated to be worth more than $82.5 million.
The third most expensive painting by Vincent van Gogh is 'Labourer in a Field', which sold for $81 million in 2017.
