Portrait of Dr. Gachet by Vincent van Gogh

Vincent Willem van Gogh (March 30, 1853 – July 29, 1890) was a Dutch post-Impressionist painter, widely regarded as one of the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western Art. In a decade, he created about 2,100 works of art, including about 860 oil paintings, most of which were painted during the last two years of his life. These include landscapes, still lifes, portraits and self-portraits, characterized by bold tones and dramatic, impulsive and expressive brushstrokes that have contributed to the foundation of modern art. Van Gogh was not commercially successful, and his suicide at the age of 37 came after years of struggling with depression and poverty.

The Portrait of Doctor Gachet is one of the most revered paintings by Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh. The painting depicts the doctor Paul Gachet, who cared for Van Gogh during the last months of his life. There are two attested versions of the portrait, both painted in June 1890 at Auvers-sur-Oise. Both pictures show Gachet sitting at a table with his head resting on his right arm, but they are easily distinguishable in color and style. In May 1990, the first edition was auctioned for $82.5 million (equivalent to $154.5 million today), which is a record for the highest price ever paid for a picture. This record was unchallenged until June 2006 when it was surpassed by the Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer.

Adjusted price: $134.6 Million | Original price: $82.5 Million