Most expensive painting: Paul Gauguin artwork breaks Guinness World Records record (VIDEO)
BASEL, Switzerland -- The Guinness World Records' record for the most expensive artwork ever sold has been broken by a 19th century painting by Paul Gauguin which reached $300 million (£197 million) at auction; 'Nafea faa ipoipo' (When will you marry?) is an 1892 painting of two Tahitian women by Paul Gauguin after the time he spent on the tropical island in the late 19th century, according to the World Record Academy: www.worldrecordacademy.com/. Photo: A painting of two Tahitian girls by French artist Paul Gauguin has become the world's most expensive painting after being sold for a record $300 million. The 1892 painting, Nafea Faa Ipoipo (When Will You Marry?), was reportedly bought by Qatar to be placed in its state-run museum. (enlarge photo)
The Guinness World Records' record for the e most expensive Old Master painting sold at auction is The Massacre of the Innocents by Rubens (1577-1640) which was sold at Sotheby's, London, UK for £49.5 million ($76.7 million) on 10 July 2002 to Kenneth Thomson, chairman of the Thomson newspaper empire.
Guinness World Records also recognized the world record for the highest price paid for a painting sold on the internet; it is $550,750 (£386,220) for a Victorian painting The Misses Stewart Hodgson by Lord Frederic Leighton on 29 November 2001 at Sothebys.com. 'Nafea faa ipoipo' (When will you marry?) is an 1892 painting of two Tahitian women by Paul Gauguin after the time he spent on the tropical island in the late 19th century.
It's former owner Rudolf Staechelin, a collector from Basel in Switzerland, has confirmed the sale.
The 1892 painting, Nafea Faa Ipoipo (When Will You Marry?), was reportedly bought by Qatar to be placed in its state-run museum.
The country previously held the record for most expensive painting, after buying Paul Cezanne's Two Card Players in 2011 for £160 million (AU$311 million).
Qatar Museums, who reportedly bought the painting according to the New York Times, has spent more than $1 billion on prestigious pieces of work.
Qatar's museum services is headed up by the sister of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. As well as the Cezanne , she also oversaw the purchase of works by Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst and Mark Rothko.
