Pablo Picasso was born in 1881 in Spain. There really was no question he would be an artist as he took to drawing at an early age and by 13 was so proficient, that his father, who was a professor of Fine Arts, quit painting because his son had surpassed him already. By the age of 16, his parents sent him off to Madrid, to attend Spain’s best art school, but Pablo was more interested in the other things Madrid had to offer and quit going to class. A few years later, he moved to Paris and lived the life of a starving artist, with all its poverty and struggle. He illustrated a journal for awhile as he worked to support himself as an artist. It wasn’t long before he had achieved some fame and put together a bit of a fortune. We could do a complete list of the lovers, wives and mistresses he hand during his life. Pablo was a confirmed pacifist, sitting out both world wars and even refusing to take sides in his native Spain’s Civil War. He would later join the communist party, but really was not active in the party other than in name. Not only is he famous for his painting, which evolve through various styles, but also for his sculptures, including the Chicago Picasso, which he donated to the people of the city. He also dabbled a little in ceramics. While his style certainly did not appeal to everyone, he is recognized as the top artist in the world, based on sales. However, it should be noted that Picasso is died in 1973, so many of his works have been on the market reasonably recently. Many of Van Gogh’s or Monet’s paintings would certainly sell for enough to move them up the list, however, some of their most famous works are owned by museums who have no interest in selling them. Even still, Picasso has 9 of the top 30 paintings in terms of selling price (adjusted for inflation of course). While the Mona Lisa was insured for only $100 million in 1962, if we adjusted this number and used it for a value, it would be worth about $670 million, but I am thinking that the owners, the French Government, isn’t going to sell it any time soon. With that in mind, here is today’s top ten paintings, 9 based on value, and the last, based on size and fame.

1. Garçon à la pipe (Boy with a Pipe)  – $118.9 Million
2. Dora Maar au Chat – (Dora Maar with a Cat) – $101.8 Million
3. Les Noces de Pierrette – (The Marriage of Pierrette) – $85.7 Million
4. Yo, Picasso – (Self Protrait) – $83.2 Million
5. Au Lapin Agile – (Harlequin with a Glass) – $70.8 Million
6. Acrobate et jeune Arlequin – (Acrobat and Young Harlequin) – $70.2 Million
7. Femme aux Bras Croisés – (Woman with folded arms) – $68.9 Million
8. Le Reve – (The Dream) – $65 Million
9. Femme assise dans un jardin (Woman sitting in a garden) – $64.2 Million (which in no way could ever be mixed up with Monet’s painting of the same name)
10. Guenerica – Perhaps his most famous work, commissioned by Spain to commemorate the German Bombing of Guernica. The painting is 11 feet wide and over 26 feet long. While it has never been sold, it might be his most famous painting, having been shown all over the world.

While Picasso certainly was not broke, the profit from most of these painting went to others. So there is still hope, if you see the work of an young, promising artist, it might make sense to pick up an original work of their art. You just might find you have the work of the next Warhol, or better yet, Picasso.

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