The rich and wealthy of the Arab world have proven time and time again that they love to take risks in today’s art world. Many have become art enthusiasts and collectors, invested in unexpected works that give them a sense of awe.
The question is, how much do you think they’d be willing to spend on a piece of art? Let’s find out:
Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi ($450M)
What’s considered one of the most expensive paintings in the world was bought by a Saudi royal figure in 2017. Some sources say it was Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan al-Saud, while others claim the buyer was Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. Thus far, it is unclear who the real buyer is.
Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi was sold for a whopping record-breaking $450 million at a Christie’s auction in New York. Today, it is owned by the Saudi Arabian Culture Ministry.
Often depicted as the “male Mona Lisa,” the painting depicts a beatific Christ raising one hand in the air in blessing. This is one of the many works of da Vinci depicting Jesus Christ. It is also a very controversial artwork as many claim that it is not, in fact, the work of da Vinci because it doesn’t align completely with his style.
Paul Cézanne’s The Card Players ($250M)
Only five Card Players paintings exist in the world, and in 2011, Qatar’s royal family became one of its owners. The reason there are five paintings is that during the 1890s, French artist Paul Cézanne created a series of five paintings depicting labor workers playing cards.
Back in 2011, the purchase was considered the highest price ever paid for a work of art. However, Paul Gauguin’s Nafea Faa Ipoipo? later took that spot until a lawsuit claimed its price was lower. Eventually, Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi proved to be the most expensive thus far.
With Cézanne being a widely acclaimed artist, an artist who inspired Cubism, presaged abstract art, and whom Picasso called “the father of us all,” it makes sense why the painting is worth such a staggering amount.
Paul Gauguin’s Nafea Faa Ipoipo? ($210M)
Back in 2015, a painting of two Tahitian girls by French artist Paul Gaugin was sold for $300 million, which was believed to be the highest price ever paid for a painting. Who is its buyer, you may ask? Well, according to two dealers with knowledge of the sale, the painting was sold to an anonymous Qatari buyer.
Nafea Faa Ipoipo? translates to “When Will You Marry?” and is known to be Gauguin’s first painting to be made after his trip to Tahiti in 1891. In the painting, you will see a native young woman donning a white flower in her hair with her mother sitting behind her.
Now, although the painting was reported to have been sold for $300 million in 2015, a lawsuit in 2017 revealed that it was actually only sold for $210 million.
Pablo Picasso’s Les Femme d’Alger (Version O) ($179.4M)
According to some sources, a very special painting by the legendary Pablo Picasso, “Les Femme d’Algers,” was bought by former Qatari Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani back in 2015. Christie’s, the painting’s auction site, has not confirmed this information yet, but there are speculations.
As a painting, it is quite special because it belongs to Picasso’s 1954-55 Femmes d’Alger series, which was inspired by the 19th-century French master Eugène Delacroix and showcases a new style of painting offered by Picasso.
Pablo Picasso’s Young Girl With A Flower Basket ($115M)
Another Picasso piece joined the Arab-bought paintings. Known as the “Young Girl With A Flower Basket”, the painting was purchased by the Nahmad family, Lebanese in origin and considered one of the most influential art-dealing families in the world.
The work itself is a painting of a naked, pale pubescent girl from Picasso’s Rose period, carrying a flower basket. The Nahmad family ended up buying the painting for $115 and displaying it at the Musée d’Orsay.
These major purchases by wealthy members of Arab society showcase their efforts to transform the region into an international intellectual hub whose art scene continues to flourish.
