Portrait of Joseph Roulin by Vincent van Gogh

Joseph Roulin was a close friend of Van Gogh while he was in the southern French town of Arles during 1888-1889. In 1888, van Gogh moved to Arles, hoping to discover more artistic sensibilities in the unspoiled countryside. But after moving here, he finds himself alone and isolated. Joseph Roulin worked as a postmaster at the station in Arles. Van Gogh often went there to send paintings to his brother Theo in the Netherlands and they became close friends. Friendship with Joseph Roulin and his family provided Van Gogh comfort and companionship. Roulin continued to see Van Gogh while he was at a psychiatric hospital in Arles, and wrote letters to Van Gogh's family to reassure them of his health and provide regular consolation as he recuperated.

Van Gogh painted about 20 pictures for Joseph Roulin and his family, and he was very proud of these portraits and wrote to his brother Theo about them.

In 1989, the Museum of Modern Art in New York purchased another Portrait of Joseph Roulin from a private collection in Zurich for $58 million. Taking inflation into account, it remains one of the most expensive paintings ever sold.

Adjusted price: $99.7+ Million | Original price: $58+ Million